Politics may have spurred August purge of 5 veteran FBI agents

WhentheFBIfiredfiveveteranagentsearlierthismonth,DirectorKashPatelofferednoexplanation. Shockatthefiringshascontinuedtoreverberatethroughthestoriedagency.Andnow,detailsareemergingaboutthepossiblemotivation,severalsourcesclosetotheagentstellCBSNews. “ThereisadespicablepurgeunderwayofseniorFBIofficials,allofwhomhaverisenintheircareersasnonpartisan,andwhohavebeentargetedforvindictive,politicalpurposes,”saidMarkZaid,awhistleblowerattorneywhorepresentsanumberoffederalworkersdismissedunderPresidentTrump. WithoutanypubliccommentfromFBIorJusticeDepartmentofficials,theagents,including,BrianDriscoll,whoservedforashorttimeasactingdirectoratthestartoftheTrumpadministration,andStevenJensen,headofthepowerfulWashingtonfieldoffice,weresummarilyfiredandgivenlittleexplanationfortheirremoval.Nonehadreachedretirementage,meaningtheabruptdismissalswilldeprivethemoftheirfullpensions.Oneagent’sexpulsioncameamonthafterhiswifediedofcan