Kash Patel, the current FBI director, has reportedly dismissed at least 10 FBI officials connected to investigations of former President Donald Trump. The removals follow revelations that the agency previously subpoenaed personal records of Patel and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles before Trump returned to office. The actions were tied to the federal investigation led by former special counsel Jack Smith. Smith had been probing Trump for allegedly mishandling classified documents found at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida after his first presidential term. During the investigation, the FBI reportedly subpoenaed phone records of Patel and Wiles. Both were close Trump advisers but private citizens at the time. Reports indicate the subpoenas were part of efforts to review communications surrounding the handling of government documents. Patel criticized the FBI’s actions, calling them evidence of government overreach. In a statement, he said the subpoenas were issued using “flimsy pretexts” and buried in prohibited case files to avoid oversight. He labeled the behavior “outrageous and deeply alarming.” The Trump investigations also included allegations of interfering with the 2020 presidential election. Smith had previously stated that his findings could have led to criminal charges against Trump if not for the policy preventing prosecution of a sitting president. In 2023, Smith’s team secured indictments accusing Trump of illegally retaining classified documents and plotting to overturn the 2020 election. Both cases were later dropped after Trump won the 2024 election, in line with Justice Department rules. A federal judge recently blocked further publication of Smith’s investigative report. Patel had been a key figure in the documents probe, serving as a top Trump adviser. He testified before a federal grand jury in 2022 under limited immunity about the retention of government documents. This latest round of dismissals is not Patel’s first. In September, three senior FBI officials sued him and the federal government for wrongful termination, claiming they were fired for investigating Trump. In November, the bureau terminated another official with 27 years of service, following reports that Patel used a government plane for personal purposes. The FBI has not commented publicly on the recent firings. Patel’s statements suggest a continued effort to remove officials he views as politically aligned with prior investigations into Trump. Analysts say the dismissals may raise concerns about internal FBI independence. However, Patel has framed the actions as protecting privacy and challenging overreach by previous agency leadership. Observers note that the subpoenas of Patel and Wiles’ records highlight tensions between federal law enforcement and political appointees. These events come as Trump’s post-presidency activities remain under scrutiny, including investigations into document handling and election-related actions. The dismissals underscore ongoing debate over accountability in federal investigations and the role of political influence within law enforcement agencies. For now, Patel appears focused on consolidating leadership aligned with his approach to sensitive political and legal matters.