PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The FBI has fired 15 agents linked to a 2020 kneeling incident during protests over George Floyd’s death.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: 15 FBI agents, FBI Director Kash Patel, and the FBI Agents Association.

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📍WHEN & WHERE: The firings were announced on Friday, following a review of the 2020 incident in Washington, DC.

🎯IMPACT: The firings are part of an effort to address left-wing politicization within the FBI

The FBI has dismissed 15 agents tied to a 2020 incident where agents were photographed kneeling with protesters during demonstrations over the death of George Floyd. The decision follows a months-long review of the event, which had drawn criticism from conservative media and some retired agents.

The FBI Agents Association criticized the firings, stating they violated the agents’ due process rights and undermined trust within the bureau. “Patel’s dangerous new pattern of actions are weakening the Bureau because they eliminate valuable expertise and damage trust between leadership and the workforce,” the association said in a statement.

The original incident occurred in Washington, DC, during the summer of 2020, when a group of agents knelt in an effort to de-escalate tensions with protesters. While the move successfully calmed the situation, it sparked internal controversy, and photos of the event led to backlash.

Following the incident, initial reviews determined no policy violations had occurred. However, earlier this year, FBI leadership reassessed the situation, resulting in reassignments and eventual firings. The bureau has not commented on the recent dismissals.

Friday’s actions are reportedly part of a broader effort to address what the Trump administration has called “woke” and politicized elements within the FBI. This includes a review of agents involved in cases disfavored by the current administration, such as investigations into the president and his allies.

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