Patel fires FBI trainee who displayed a pride flag at his previous work area
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.
| by Anonymous | reply 8 | October 6, 2025 12:08 PM
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FBI Director Kash Patel on Wednesday fired an agent in training for displaying a gay pride flag on his desk while appointed to a field office in California last year, according to three people familiar with the matter.
The trainee, who previously worked as an FBI support specialist in Los Angeles, received a letter — dated Oct. 1 and signed by Patel — claiming he had displayed an improper “political” message in the workplace during his assignment in California under President Joe Biden, according to a copy of the letter shared with MSNBC.
The letter cited President Donald Trump’s Article II powers under the Constitution to dismiss federal agency career personnel, a justification used in several recent firings at the Department of Justice and FBI. The terminations are currently being challenged in several lawsuits.
| by Anonymous | reply 2 | October 6, 2025 2:34 AM
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This is religious discrimination and should sue under the First Amendment
| by Anonymous | reply 3 | October 6, 2025 2:35 AM
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The man who was fired is gay and had worked for the FBI for 10 years as an FBI support specialist. He displayed the pride flag on his desk last year during the previous Biden presidency when he had also been a field office diversity program coordinator.
The agent trainee, who had most recently been assigned to the FBI Academy in Quantico, [bold]won an Attorney General’s Award in 2022 in recognition of his work[/bold], according to a Justice Department news release.
| by Anonymous | reply 4 | October 6, 2025 2:43 AM
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Why don't these people sue?
| by Anonymous | reply 5 | October 6, 2025 2:54 AM
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Which "pride" flag was it? Because this isn't a pride flag. It's an ugly travesty.
| by Anonymous | reply 6 | October 6, 2025 4:35 AM
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Hopefully my gray ace flag isn’t a problem. I’m a loose cannon and their worst nightmare.
| by Anonymous | reply 7 | October 6, 2025 5:32 AM
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Why hasn't somebody outed that evil troll Patel?
Somebody knows something and I bet there are pictures.
| by Anonymous | reply 8 | October 6, 2025 12:08 PM
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