FBI removes two veteran counterterrorism supervisors

Two veteran FBI counterterrorism supervisors, Michael Burgwald and his deputy Courtland Rae, have been removed from their positions at the Washington field office. The demotions follow a disagreement regarding an investigation into alleged harassing phone calls made to Katie Miller, the wife of White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller.

The agents had reportedly concluded that the calls did not meet the necessary threshold for a terrorism investigation and lacked a connection to terrorist activity. Sources indicate that the decision to investigate the calls was met with internal disdain, as officials noted that harassing calls do not typically constitute terrorism unless linked to an actual terrorist.

While the FBI confirmed the personnel changes, stating they were based on “ongoing assessment of mission needs” at the field office level, the move comes amid scrutiny of FBI Director Kash Patel. Patel, a Trump ally, has previously overseen the removal or reassignment of various career employees involved in investigations related to the former president and his allies.