The top FBI official who defiantly proclaimed in February he was prepared to "dig in" for a "battle" with the Trump administration over its request for the names of FBI agents who worked on Jan. 6th cases retired under pressure as the leader of the New York field office, five sources familiar with the matter told NBC News.
Two of the sources said Assistant Director in Charge James Dennehy was given a choice to resign or be fired. He was eligible for retirement and has officially retired.
In an email to colleagues on Monday announcing his retirement, Dennehy said he was forced out.
"I've been told many times in my life, ‘When you find yourself in a hole, sometimes it's best to quit digging.’ Screw that. I will never stop defending this joint," he wrote in the email, noting that he was not "given a reason" for the decision.
He went on to say he has "an immense feeling of pride — to have represented an office of professionals who will always do the right thing for the right reasons."
In an email to his staff in February, Dennehy wrote that agents within the bureau "find ourselves in the middle of a battle of our own as good people are being walked out of the FBI," as top leaders were resisting a request from the Trump Justice Department to turn over the names of all FBI employees who worked on the Capitol riot investigations.
"Others are being targeted because they did their jobs in accordance with the law and FBI policy," his February email stated.
“Time for me to dig in,” Dennehy wrote.
The list eventually was turned over — first without the names, but later the names were also sent. But it's widely believed inside the FBI that the resistance by Dennehy, along with the acting director Brian Driscoll and acting deputy director Rob Kissane — prevented a mass firing of people associated with the Jan. 6th cases.
Dennehy was a highly regarded leader within the bureau.
He spent six years in the Marine Corps before joining the FBI after 9/11, according to his LinkedIn resume. At the bureau he specialized in weapons counterproliferation, and spent time in management roles in both the DC and New York field offices before being promoted to lead the New York office in 2022.
Before signing off his email with the Marine Corp motto "Semper Fidelis," he listed what he would miss about the job. Read his full message below:
All,
Late Friday, I was informed that I needed to put my retirement papers in today, which I just did. I was not given a reason for this decision.
Regardless, I apologize to all of you for not being able to fulfill my commitment to you to serve as ADIC NY for at least two years. But 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; who will always follow the facts no matter where they lead and be unapologetic about it; who will never bend, break, falter, or quit on your integrity; who will always handle cases and evidence with an overabundance of caution and care for the innocent, the victims, and the process first; and who will always remain independent.
So with that, here is my final Top 10 list:
Top 10 Things I'll Miss about the FBI
10. The commute to work. NOT.
9. The investigations. Doesn't matter what squad you are on - the work is the best in the world.
8. The intensity. You have to be in it to realize what I mean. But we all know how significant what we do is.
7. The FBI brand. Do not fret. Those three letters still mean something - and there is only a select group of folks in this world, past and present, who can say they're with the FBI. Be proud of that.
6. The camaraderie - within our own Bureau family, and with all law enforcement - local, state, federal, and international. There is no better fraternity in the world.
5. The opportunity to put on a suit and tie to conduct interviews in the morning, throw on some street clothes to conduct surveillance in the afternoon, debrief a sensitive source in a safehouse overnight, and then get up early for a SWAT arrest the next morning. Then rinse and repeat.
4. The badge. What it took to earn it and what it means to carry it.
3. The independence. We will not bend. We will not falter. We will not sacrifice what is right for anything or anyone.
2. The impact. Our work helps shape foreign policy, community awareness, international relations, wartime decisions, and public safety. Every. Single. Day.
1. All of you - every single one of you who has earned your position within this phenomenal organization.
I've been told many times in my life, "When you find yourself in a hole, sometimes it's best to quit digging." Screw that. I will never stop defending this joint. I'll just do it willingly and proudly from outside the wire.
Semper Fidelis,
JD
