FBI Director Patel Quietly Fires At Least Five Analysts Over 2023 Catholic Extremism Memo
FBI Director Kash Patel has fired at least five analysts who worked on the withdrawn 2023 "Radical Traditionalist Catholic" memo, reporters said Friday, June 5, 2026.[1]
An internal FBI review under former director Chris Wray concluded the memo failed to meet analytic standards and led to admonishments, though it found no evidence of discriminatory motive.[2] A Justice Department inspector general review reached similar conclusions and said there was no order to target particular religions.[2] Allies of President Trump and the Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias seized on the firings and said the FBI had monitored traditional Catholics who committed no crimes.[2] The task force also criticized the memo's "misplaced reliance" on the Southern Poverty Law Center, which faces a federal criminal case; the SPLC denies wrongdoing.[2]
The memo was drafted in 2023 by analysts in the FBI's Richmond field office and was later withdrawn amid criticism.[2] Earlier discipline had been limited to admonishments and new approval safeguards, but after Patel reviewed the episode he ordered terminations in the months before June 5.[1]
Some FBI officials warned the terminations could chill analytic work on domestic extremism and embolden outside political pressure on intelligence products.[1] CBS said the firings are part of a broader wave of removals tied to probes the Trump administration opposed, including staff on classified-documents and 2020-election cases and prosecutors who brought FACE Act abortion-clinic obstruction cases.[2]
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📌 Key Facts
- On Friday, June 5, 2026, CBS reported that the FBI has fired at least five analysts involved in drafting the withdrawn 2023 'Radical Traditionalist Catholic' memo from the Richmond field office.
- The FBI Director Kash Patel personally ordered or approved the firing of at least five analysts who worked on the 2023 Richmond memo, according to The New York Times.
- An internal FBI investigation under former Director Chris Wray found no malicious intent or discriminatory comments by the memo’s drafters but concluded the document failed to meet analytic standards, contained errors in professional judgment, and led to admonishments and new approval safeguards.
- A Justice Department inspector general review likewise found no order directing analysts to target particular religions and no evidence of discriminatory motive.
- The Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias and allies of President Trump highlighted the memo and the firings, saying the FBI 'investigated, monitored, tracked and scrutinized traditional Catholics who had engaged in no criminal misconduct.'
- The task force report criticized the memo’s 'misplaced reliance' on the Southern Poverty Law Center, which faces a federal criminal case over alleged deception in paying informants; the SPLC denies wrongdoing and calls the prosecution vindictive.
- CBS reported the firings are part of a broader wave of removals of FBI and Justice Department personnel tied to investigations or prosecutions opposed by the Trump administration, including staff who worked on classified‑documents and 2020‑election cases and prosecutors who brought FACE Act abortion‑clinic obstruction cases.
- The New York Times reported internal concern inside the bureau that the firings could chill analytic work on domestic extremism and embolden external political pressure on intelligence products.
- The New York Times also refined the timeline, reporting that the terminations occurred in the months leading up to June 5, 2026 after Patel assumed leadership and reviewed the Richmond memo episode.
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- The New York Times reports on June 5, 2026, that FBI Director Kash Patel personally ordered or approved the firing of at least five analysts involved in drafting the 2023 Richmond field office memo on 'Radical Traditionalist Catholic' extremism.
- The article details internal deliberations in which earlier discipline had been limited to admonishments before Patel moved to terminate the analysts despite prior reviews finding no discriminatory intent.
- The Times adds new internal reaction, including concern within the bureau that the firings could chill analytic work on domestic extremism and embolden external political pressure on intelligence products.
- The story refines the timeline, indicating the terminations occurred in the months leading up to June 5, 2026, after Patel assumed leadership and reviewed the Richmond memo episode.
- On Friday, June 5, 2026, CBS reported that the FBI has fired at least five analysts involved in drafting the withdrawn 2023 'Radical Traditionalist Catholic' memo from the Richmond field office.
- An internal FBI investigation under former Director Chris Wray found no malicious intent or discriminatory comments by the drafters but concluded the memo failed to meet analytic standards and contained errors in professional judgment; analysts were initially admonished and new approval safeguards were instituted.
- A separate Justice Department inspector general review likewise found no order directing analysts to target particular religions and no evidence of discriminatory motive.
- The memo and the firings have been highlighted by President Trump’s allies and by the Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias, a body created by Trump executive order, which claimed the FBI 'investigated, monitored, tracked and scrutinized traditional Catholics who had engaged in no criminal misconduct.'
- The task force report criticized the memo’s 'misplaced reliance' on the Southern Poverty Law Center, which now faces its own federal criminal case over alleged deception in paying informants to infiltrate hate groups; the SPLC denies wrongdoing and calls the prosecution vindictive.
- CBS reports that these firings are part of a broader wave of removals of FBI and Justice Department personnel involved in investigations or prosecutions opposed by the Trump administration, including everyone who worked on Trump’s classified-documents and 2020-election criminal cases and several prosecutors who brought FACE Act abortion-clinic obstruction cases.