Kash Patel fires FBI trainee who displayed pride flag, sources say
The trainee had worked at the FBI's Los Angeles field office for over a decade.
The FBI director "summarily dismissed" a new agent trainee at the FBI academy in Quantico, Virginia, who displayed a pride flag at his previous work area, according to several sources familiar with the matter and a copy of a letter from Director Kash Patel reviewed by ABC News.
The trainee worked at the FBI's Los Angeles field office for more than a decade in a non-agent capacity and more recently went into training to become an agent, sources said.
In a letter to the trainee on Wednesday, which was reviewed by ABC News, Patel wrote: "This document provides official notice that you are being summarily dismissed from your position as a New Agent Trainee at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, and removed from the federal service, under my authority as the FBI Director, effective immediately."
"After reviewing the facts and circumstances and considering your probationary status, I have determined you exercised poor judgment with an inappropriate display of political signage in your work area during your previous assignment at the Los Angeles Field Office. Pursuant to Article II of the United States Constitution and the laws of the United States, your employment with the Federal Bureau of Investigation is hereby terminated," Patel added.
An FBI spokesperson could not be reached Saturday due to the federal government shutdown.
The firing comes a week after the FBI fired agents who kneeled during a 2020 civil rights-related protest in Washington, D.C., following George Floyd's death.
A source familiar with the matter told ABC News the agents kneeled during the protest as a de-escalation strategy, after angry protesters urged them to kneel.
The source said a previous internal review of the agents' actions found that the kneeling was not meant to be a political statement of solidarity with the protesters.
