The head of the FBI’s New York field office, who reportedly resisted the Justice Department’s attempts to examine agents involved in politically sensitive cases, has announced his retirement after being instructed to do so.
This development comes at a tumultuous time for the bureau, which is facing unusual pressure from the Justice Department to provide a list of agents who participated in investigations related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Many within the FBI interpret this request as a potential precursor to widespread layoffs.
In a message to his colleagues on Monday, James Dennehy revealed that he was directed late Friday to submit his retirement papers, although he was not given a specific explanation. This shift follows the recent appointment of new FBI Director Kash Patel and the selection of conservative podcast host and Trump supporter Dan Bongino as deputy director.
Dennehy, a retired Marine who had previously expressed resistance to the Justice Department’s orders, emphasized his commitment to integrity in his farewell message. He stated that he would miss the independence of the bureau, asserting, “We will not bend. We will not falter. We will not sacrifice what is right for anything or anyone.”
He also conveyed his determination to continue defending the FBI’s values, saying, “I will never stop defending this joint. I’ll just do it willingly and proudly from outside the wire.” Dennehy’s tenure as head of one of the FBI’s busiest and most esteemed offices lasted only a few months.
The FBI has refrained from commenting on his retirement, and a spokesperson for the Justice Department did not respond immediately to requests for comment. NBC News was the first to report on Dennehy’s departure. Dennehy was appointed to lead the New York field office last September by then-FBI Director Christopher Wray after joining the bureau as a special agent in counterintelligence in 2002.
