FBI Agents Demoted After Questioning Investigation Into Stephen Miller's Wife
Two decorated counterterrorism leaders were reportedly removed from their positions after raising concerns about the legitimacy of a probe into alleged harassing phone calls made to Katie Miller.
Two veteran FBI counterterrorism agents were demoted from their Washington D.C. posts and reassigned to headquarters after they questioned the necessity and legality of an investigation into alleged harassing phone calls directed at Katie Miller, the wife of former Trump administration official Stephen Miller.
Special Agent in Charge Michael Burgwald and his deputy, Courtland Rae, reportedly raised objections to a request for the counterterrorism section to conduct a threat assessment related to the calls. According to reports, they believed the alleged harassment did not meet the threshold for an FBI investigation.
Despite these concerns, a team reviewing the calls reportedly found them insufficient to warrant an FBI investigation. Subsequently, Burgwald and Rae were demoted.
FBI officials have stated that FBI Director Kash Patel did not order the demotions. Darren Cox, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Washington field office, asserted that the decision was a "personnel decision made at the Washington Field Office level alone based on our constant evaluation of mission needs." He added that any suggestion Patel ordered the decision was false.
Christopher Raia, FBI Co-Deputy Director, echoed this, stating that the decisions were based on "a number of factors not reflected in the reporting and handled through the appropriate processes at the Washington Field Office." He emphasized that Patel had not "directed the removal" of the agents.
Burgwald is a West Point graduate who received a national security award in 2016, and Rae was involved in the investigation of the Boston Marathon bombing. A senior White House official told the Daily Mail that the Millers had never interacted with or met the demoted agents. This official also stated that there had been an "elaborate, well-documented stalking, doxing and threat campaign targeting the Millers’ residence."
Stephen Miller serves as White House deputy chief of staff for policy, and Katie Miller previously worked as communications director for the vice president and now hosts a podcast.
This incident is the latest in a series of controversies during Patel's tenure as FBI Director, which has seen the removal of other senior officials, some reportedly involved in investigations concerning Donald Trump.