James Dennehy, the former head of the FBI's New York office, was compelled to step down from his position earlier this week.
His departure was marked by a grand spectacle, complete with a cheering crowd, tearful colleagues, and a bagpipe player serenading his exit.
According to RedState, this dramatic farewell was a stark contrast to Dennehy's previous declaration of defiance against the Trump administration. Just last month, he had pledged to "dig in" and resist any attempts to "drain the swamp." However, when faced with the choice of resignation or termination, as reported by multiple sources at NBC News, Dennehy chose to leave his post.
The bagpipe music that accompanied his departure is a traditional send-off for retiring law enforcement or military personnel. However, Dennehy's exit was far from a typical retirement. His decision to step down came after he had sent an email to his staff, expressing his intention to defy President Trump and his administration.
"Today, we find ourselves in the middle of a battle of our own, as good people are being walked out of the F.B.I. and others are being targeted because they did their jobs in accordance with the law and F.B.I. policy, Dennehy wrote. Time for me to dig in.
His defiant stance was in response to a Department of Justice directive to identify FBI employees who had worked on cases involving alleged malicious prosecution against peaceful protestors on January 6th, 2021.
However, Dennehy's ability to "dig in" was significantly curtailed when he was forced out of his position. Despite his impending departure, he remained defiant, as evidenced by a note to his staff obtained by The Hill.
Ive been told many times in my life, When you find yourself in a hole, sometimes its best to quit digging. Screw that, Dennehy wrote. I will never stop defending this joint. Ill just do it willingly and proudly from outside the wire.
He continued, As I leave today, I have an immense feeling of pride to have represented an office of professionals who will always do the right thing for the right reasons; who will always seek the truth while upholding the rule of law.
Dennehy's departure has been met with criticism, with some arguing that the FBI under President Joe Biden did not "do the right thing" when it came to pursuing individuals over an alleged insurrection.
We will not bend. We will not falter," Dennehy added. "We will not sacrifice what is right for anything or anyone.
However, his words were met with skepticism as he left his post amidst a wave of emotion from his colleagues.
Dennehy has stated that he was not provided a reason for his dismissal. However, some commentators have speculated that his departure may be linked to Attorney General Pam Bondi's recent order for the FBI to release the complete Epstein files. The anticipated release of these files has been met with disappointment, particularly among those seeking justice for victims of child sexual assault.
John Sexton of Hot Air questioned whether Dennehy's dismissal was related to the withholding of these crucial documents. "So did the FBI deliver a lot more material to Bondi and did Patel or someone in his office determine it had been withheld by Dennehy?" Sexton asked. "At this moment we don't know but it seems like a possibility given the timing."
If Dennehy did indeed withhold documents, it would contradict his pledge to always "do the right thing." Perhaps the bagpipes and tears that marked his departure would have been better reserved for those still seeking justice in the Epstein case.
Login