FBI's NY chief, who pushed back on inquiry into January 6 investigation retires, sources say

By Sarah N. Lynch

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The head of the FBI's New York office retired on Monday, two people familiar with his move said, weeks after he pushed back on a request by President Donald Trump's administration to provide a list of agents who worked on the investigation into the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

James Dennehy, the assistant FBI director in charge of the New York office, served in a progression of roles at the bureau over the past 23 years.

Dennehy took a stand against a Trump administration directive to gather the names of all agents who worked on the January 6 investigation, the largest in Justice Department history.

He said in a January email was seen by Reuters that agents were "in the middle of a battle of our own, as good people are being walked out of the FBI and others are being targeted because they did their jobs in accordance with the law and FBI policy."

The FBI declined to comment. Dennehy could not be reached for immediate comment.

The two people were granted anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

NBC reported the news earlier on Monday.

Dennehy's missive followed a request by Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove to FBI staff to report on any work they performed on the investigation into the January 6 attack.

Trump appointees have moved swiftly in his first weeks in office to remake the U.S. Justice Department and the FBI, which Trump says were used against him in his four years out of power.

(Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Editing by Scott Malone and Lincoln Feast.)