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Embattled New York FBI field office head forced out celebrated with ‘bagpipes’ as he exits

March 7, 2025 | | Print Article

The head of the New York FBI field office who said he was forced to resign was given a hero’s sendoff by “hundreds” of his colleagues who even rolled out bagpipes for his exit.

James Dennehy “was forced out Monday, a month after he urged his employees to ‘dig in’ after the Trump administration removed senior FBI leaders and requested the names of all agents who worked on Jan. 6 cases, five sources familiar with the matter told NBC News,” the outlet reported.

He confirmed his departure in an email he sent out Monday, writing, “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,” Dennehy wrote, according to Fox News.

“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,” wrote Dennehy, who was appointed in September 2024 by former FBI Director Christopher Wray.

“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,” the U.S. Marine Corps veteran added.

Dennehy’s departure comes after the confirmation of FBI Director Kash Patel, and deputy director Dan Bongino and after Attorney General Pam Bondi revealed that thousands of pages of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein were being held back at the FBI’s New York Field Office.

 

“I’ve been told many times in my life, ‘When you find yourself in a hole, sometimes it’s best to quit digging,’”Dennehy wrote in his email. “Screw that. I will never stop defending this joint. I’ll just do it willingly and proudly from outside the wire.”

His dramatic sendoff prompted fresh criticism on social media.

 

Frieda Powers
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