FBI New York field office chief says he was forced to resign

The head of the FBI’s New York field office, who had been critical of Trump administration firings at the bureau, says he was forced out of his role.

James Dennehy, the assistant director in charge of the FBI’s New York field office, said in a note to staff that he was told to put in his retirement papers without any explanation.

“I’ve been told many times in my life, ‘When you find yourself in a hole, sometimes it’s best to quit digging.’ Screw that,” Dennehy wrote Monday.

“I will never stop defending this joint. I’ll just do it willingly and proudly from outside the wire.”

Dennehy had previously told staff to “dig in” in the wake of a purge of FBI leaders both in headquarters and field offices. Shortly thereafter, the Justice Department demanded the FBI hand over a list of the names of agents who worked on the 1,500 investigations that led to charged for those who stormed the Capitol.

“Today, we find ourselves in the middle of a battle of our own, as good people are being walked out of the FBI and others are being targeted because they did their jobs in accordance with the law and FBI policy,” he wrote last month in an email reported by The New York Times.

“Time for me to dig in.”

In his Monday missive to staff, Dennehy echoed former FBI Director Christopher Wray in calling on staff to follow FBI guidelines. Wray appointed Dennehy to his post in New York in September.

"As I leave today, I have an immense feeling of pride — to have represented an office of professionals who will always do the right thing for the right reasons; who will always seek the truth while upholding the rule of law," he wrote, according to NBC News.

"Who will always handle cases and evidence with an overabundance of caution and care for the innocent, the victims, and the process first; and who will always remain independent."

He also listed “the independence” of the agency as one of the things he would miss, saying “We will not bend. We will not falter. We will not sacrifice what is right for anything or anyone.”

The Associated Press contributed reporting.

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