James Dennehy, the former head of the FBI’s largest field office, has been forced to resign following a standoff with the Trump administration over its handling of Jan. 6 cases. Dennehy confirmed in an internal email that he was ordered to leave but was not given a reason.
His departure comes one month after he opposed a Justice Department directive requesting a list of all FBI personnel who worked on cases against Trump supporters tied to the Jan. 6 protests. Dennehy had responded at the time by warning his team that good agents were being removed and urging them to remain steadfast.
Several senior FBI officials have already been removed as part of the administration’s effort to restructure the agency. Dennehy’s resignation is expected to accelerate additional dismissals of agents linked to Jan. 6 prosecutions.
Beyond his role in those cases, Dennehy was also central to the corruption investigation of New York City Mayor Eric Adams. That case collapsed when multiple federal prosecutors quit in protest, alleging political interference from the administration.
In his farewell note, Dennehy commended his colleagues and emphasized the importance of integrity in law enforcement. He assured them that he would continue to support the FBI’s mission from outside the agency.
Dennehy, a Marine Corps veteran, previously led the FBI’s Newark office before his promotion to the top role in New York.
