FBI Director Kash Patel fired a trainee who displayed a Pride flag on their desk while working in a California field office last year, according to a new report.
MSNBC reported on Thursday that Patel dismissed the trainee for displaying an improper "political" message, citing a copy of the trainee's dismissal letter shared with the outlet. Patel also cited President Donald Trump's Article II powers as justification for the trainee's dismissal, although that authority has been challenged in court numerous times.
The report also mentions that the trainee was awarded an Attorney General's Award in 2022 for their work.
"After reviewing the facts and circumstances and considering your probationary status, I have determined that you exercised poor judgment with an inappropriate display of political signage in your work area during your previous assignment in the Los Angeles Field Office," Patel wrote in the letter reviewed by MSNBC.
The firing also surprised some agents in the field office, according to the report. Afterward, some scoured their desks to make sure they didn't have any questionable signs or comments that were visible.