Trump receives list of FBI staff involved in Jan. 6 probes

As evidenced by his day one pardons of participants in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol unrest, President Donald Trump has made it clear that he intends to secure justice and accountability from those who may have abused their authority in prosecuting protestors.

Late last week, Trump finally got his hands on a list of FBI employees who took part in investigations of Jan. 6 demonstrators, something his administration requested late last month, as the Daily Caller reports.

FBI complies with Trump demand

As the Guardian explains, the FBI acquiesced to a Trump DOJ demand for a comprehensive list of agents who were assigned to and worked on Jan. 6-related investigations.

The move brought an end to a standoff between the agencies that was in part fueled by concerns at the FBI of potential retaliation from the new administration.

According to the Daily Caller, the FBI provided the requested names with a classified system designed to prevent public identification of those involved.

Acting FBI Director Brian Driscoll emphasized his hope that the names will be kept out of public view, writing in an email obtained by whistleblower Garret O'Boyle, “I want to be clear that as of now we do not have information indicating the Department of Justice intends to disseminate these lists publicly, and they are fully aware of the risks we believe are inherent in doing so.”

That same message suggested that impacted employees should make efforts to “mitigate [their] digital footprint” to avoid any safety risks stemming from the sensitive and controversial nature of the situation.

Bove offers assurances

Apprehensions about the fate of agents who were assigned to probe Jan. 6 cases stem in part from Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, who noted that many at the FBI participated in “what President Trump appropriately described as 'a grave national injustice that has been perpetrated on the American people over the last four years' with respect to events that occurred at or near the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021.”

Even so, Bove said Wednesday that FBI employees whose conduct was within proper ethical bounds would not lose their jobs.

“Let me be clear. No FBI employee who simply followed orders and carried out their duties in an ethical manner with respect to January 6 investigations is at risk of termination or other penalties,” Bove said.

Rather, he intimated, it is FBI staff who took part in weaponization of the agency and “acted with corrupt or partisan intent” who should be concerned about what might come next.

Precisely how much transformational upheaval may be destined for the agency, particularly if Trump nominee Kash Patel takes the helm as expected, is something that still remains to be seen.