The U.S. Justice Department has reportedly initiated a review of its January 6 investigations, sparking concerns about a potential political purge.
Thousands of FBI personnel have been directed to provide detailed information about their roles in the investigations into the January 6, 2021 Capitol riots, according to Reuters and AP. A memo revealed that employees must disclose their job titles, responsibilities, and specific involvement in the probes, including participation in search warrants, interviews, or trials. This directive has raised fears of possible firings.
The January 6 riots saw supporters of then-President Donald Trump storm the U.S. Capitol to disrupt the certification of the 2020 election results. Approximately 140 police officers were injured, and five lives were lost during or immediately after the incident. Federal investigations led to numerous arrests and over 1,500 individuals facing federal charges.
Last month, Trump commuted the sentences of 14 people connected with the riots and pardoned others. Now, around 4,000 agents have been instructed to complete a questionnaire detailing their involvement in the investigations.
Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove has also issued a memo announcing a review process to determine if further personnel actions are necessary after the questionnaires are submitted.
Last week, Bove dismissed over a dozen Justice Department prosecutors and ordered acting FBI Director Brian Driscoll to fire eight senior executives. Democratic lawmakers have expressed concerns about what they perceive as a political purge of the FBI and the Justice Department, with officials handling cases involving Trump and January 6 rioters seemingly targeted. However, Acting FBI Director Driscoll has reportedly pushed back against the Justice Department inquiry.