WASHINGTON — A handful of FBI agents who were captured on camera kneeling during a racial justice demonstration in Washington have been reassigned, according to two sources knowledgeable about the situation.
The protests took place in the wake of George Floyd’s death in 2020, at the hands of police officers in Minneapolis, drawing significant national attention.
The motives behind these reassignments remain largely unclear. However, it is part of a broader organizational shuffle currently being implemented by the FBI under the leadership of Director Kash Patel.
Concurrently, Deputy Director Dan Bongino has been actively working to address the dissatisfaction expressed by supporters of former President Donald Trump, ensuring them that their grievances with the FBI are being considered.
Bongino recently shared on social media that both he and Patel are spearheading several crucial initiatives designed to prevent historical errors from recurring and to resolve many outstanding inquiries. Nevertheless, Bongino did not elaborate on the specific past errors or present queries.
These personnel changes were initially brought to light by CNN and subsequently verified by two individuals who requested anonymity due to their lack of authorization to discuss confidential staffing decisions. The FBI has declined to issue public comments about the matter.
The controversial images showing a group of agents taking a knee came during widespread protests triggered by Floyd’s death, which had been caught on video and disseminated nationwide, prompting renewed discussions on policing and racial inequality.
The kneeling gesture was interpreted differently within the FBI: it displeased some personnel, while others viewed it as a strategic move to ease tensions during the demonstrations. No immediate disciplinary actions were taken against the agents at that time.
During Patel’s confirmation hearing in January, he insisted that the bureau would not engage in retaliatory actions against critics of the Trump administration. Nonetheless, apprehensions existed that the Justice Department might take steps in that direction, potentially including demands for a roster of agents involved in investigations pertaining to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot—a move interpreted by some as a precursor to a potential overhaul within the FBI.