The FBI has reportedly dismissed several agents who worked on former Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into former President Donald Trump only to later reverse some of those terminations. According to a Reuters report citing five people familiar with the matter, four agents were initially fired, though two were later reinstated.
The terminations mark the latest in a series of personnel shakeups involving officials tied to Trump-related probes. Among those dismissed was Jeremy Desor, who recently faced public scrutiny after Senator Charles Grassley released more than 1,000 pages of subpoenas from Smith’s “Arctic Frost” investigation. The inquiry examined attempts to overturn the 2020 U.S. presidential election results.
Another agent, Jamie Garman, was placed on administrative leave after revelations that investigators had sought limited “tolling data” metadata showing call duration and general locations from phones belonging to several Republican lawmakers around the time of the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot.
Two other agents, Blaire Toleman and David Geist, were also informed of their dismissal before their terminations were rescinded. Toleman, now stationed in Chicago, previously led a corruption squad that was shut down earlier this year, while Geist serves with an FBI critical incident unit.
The FBI has not issued a formal statement explaining the firings or subsequent reversals. Grassley defended the public release of investigation documents, emphasizing transparency and accountability in the use of taxpayer resources.
Critics, however, argue the recent actions suggest growing political interference within the Bureau, as several agents tied to investigations of Trump or his allies have reportedly been dismissed in recent months.
Meanwhile, Smith’s legal team continues to push back against claims from lawmakers alleging “spying” or misconduct, insisting their investigative methods were lawful and appropriately limited.
As the situation unfolds, questions remain about whether the FBI’s decisions were driven by internal reviews—or by external political pressure.
