Trump fires FBI leader who refused to fire J6 investigators

FBI agent Brian Driscoll, who was named as the acting director of the FBI before Kash Patel could be confirmed, has been ousted from the agency, NBC News reporter Ken Dilanian said on Thursday.

Driscoll was an 18-year veteran with the FBI who started his career investigating organized crime, according to the release announcing his post in January. He ultimately became part of the elite hostage rescue team.

He likely drew Trump's ire when he refused an order by Justice Department official Emil Bove to deliver the names of every agent or investigator who touched any part of the Jan. 6 cases.

According to Dilanian's previous reports, the incident in February involved Driscoll pushing back so hard against Trump's demands that he assumed he would be fired. There were eight senior FBI executives whom Bove wanted removed immediately, and he wanted the names of the rest of those who were investigating Trump's fans.

"Driscoll stated that the eight executives had been forced out but did not say whether he would turn over the broader list of Jan. 6-related FBI investigators — a list that he noted encompasses thousands of FBI employees, including him," the report at the time said.

When Patel was questioned under oath before the U.S. Senate, he said, "All FBI employees will be protected against political retribution."

The new development brings up the question of whether those investigators and staff who worked on Jan. 6 cases will be on the chopping block.