Recently President Donald Trump announced that he intends to fire some of the FBI personnel who were on duty during the Capitol demonstrations of Jan. 6, 2021, asserting that some of them were "corrupt."
Trump recently pardoned many of the individuals who were arrested that day for protesting the validity of the 2020 Presidential election.
The Justice Department, under Trump’s recently confirmed Attorney General pick Pam Bondi, is reviewing how the agency handled investigations surrounding January 6th.
Meanwhile the Senate is scheduled to vote on Thursday on the confirmation of Kash Patel (above, right) to become the new director of the FBI, and he has promised major changes in the agency. Barring any unexpected opposition, Patel is expected to ultimately be confirmed.
Democrats say Patel will use the office to seek revenge.
“After giving cover to Trump’s lies about our democracy and his dangerous pardons for violent insurrectionists, Patel failed to answer every time he was asked about his plans to carry out Trump’s agenda of revenge and retribution – and made it clear why he is completely unfit to lead the FBI,” wrote DNC Rapid Response Director Alex Floyd after Patel’s confirmation hearing.
Trump contends the FBI is biased against conservatives.
Adolfo Baesa spent 21 years as a Special Agent for the FBI. He says a change is needed.
"The DOJ was very politicized. They backed off from the main focus of crime. I retired when Jim Comey was the director. The focus shifted from crime to more of the politicized version that it is today, and I think the FBI needs to gain back its integrity and what its real focus is."
That focus, according to Baesa, should be to again become the leading law enforcement organization of the United States.
"I don't think we have that – I think we've lost it," he argues. "But we need to gain it back where it's respected again. I think Cash … will make immediate changes. He's coming in [and] he's getting a lot of negative pushback. But let the man in the office and see what he can do."
Baesa says a lot of agents just blindly follow directions. Under Joe Biden’s administration those directions often seemed to focus on pro-lifers in the abortion discussion.
Alleged violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act were a favorite tactic. Many of those charged were elderly. With Biden gone, Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) and others have called for a repeal of the FACE Act.
One of the most notable pro-life arrests of Biden’s FBI targeted Mark Houck, who allegedly pushed a pro-abortion activist who he believed was harassing his son.
Baesa: Agents have tough decisions to make
FBI agents are in a difficult spot and have to make a decision for themselves, Baesa said.
"They're very hard-working good agents. But they're between a rock and a hard place. They were put in that place. So where do you go from there? Do you stand up on your morals and your integrity and walk out the door? Or do you suck it up and continue with what you don't believe in. That's a moral character that you have to decide on yourself. I myself would have stood up against them."
More comments from Adolfo Baesa were added after story was originally posted.
