Former FBI Agent Expresses Concerns over Alleged Bureau Politicization: Whistleblowers Fearful
Amid ongoing controversy surrounding the FBI, whistleblowers and former agents are speaking up about the alleged politicization occurring within the bureau.
During an interview on “Mornings with Maria,” Nicole Parker, a former special agent for the FBI, discussed her personal experiences at the bureau and emphasized the “terrifying” consequences faced by whistleblowers who attempt to hold the agency accountable.
Parker stressed that individuals within the FBI witness things they disagree with but are too afraid to speak up. She pointed out the treatment of whistleblowers, stating, “Look at what they [FBI] did to some of these whistleblowers.”
In May, the House Judiciary Committee and Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government released a report containing new whistleblower testimony from current and former FBI employees, exposing alleged abuses and misconduct within the bureau.
The report detailed the whistleblowers’ accounts of retaliatory actions taken by the FBI against them after making protected disclosures about what they believed to be misconduct.
Parker criticized her former employer, stating that if one speaks up, the FBI will search for any opportunity to discredit and destroy them, creating a sense of fear among individuals.
The FBI said the following in a statement to Fox News, “The FBI’s mission is to uphold the Constitution and protect the American people. In order to accomplish this mission, FBI employees are entrusted with access to sensitive and classified information. Because of the sensitive positions they occupy, FBI employees must demonstrate good judgment, trustworthiness, and reliability by following the law, regulations, and internal policies.”
“It is a security concern if an employee fails to do so, and as part of our responsibility to protect sensitive national security information the FBI must investigate such failures. The FBI’s security investigations and decision-making are in accordance with the legal authorities and guidelines that all federal agencies are required to follow to objectively determine whether an individual should be eligible to access sensitive and classified information. The FBI has not and will not retaliate against individuals who make protected whistleblower disclosures,” the statement added.
Continuing the discussion, Parker proposed an alternative approach for the FBI to address individuals who raise concerns about its conduct.
“Why don’t we humbly, as an agency, the FBI, look back and say, ‘You know what? Maybe we should humbly listen and let’s see, is there something that we could fix?’” Parker explained.
Having joined the FBI in 2010 during the Obama administration, the former special agent noted the significant impact that occurred from the top down throughout the field offices.
Parker and her colleagues at the Miami division witnessed a notable shift within the FBI following the launch of Operation Crossfire Hurricane, the investigation into Trump-Russia collusion.
“It was during that time that the transformation became evident,” Parker shared with host Maria Bartiromo.
She went on to describe the bureau’s mission seemingly remaining the same on paper but undergoing a drastic change in reality, leading to a highly politicized environment.
Parker emphasized that agents across the country were observant of these developments.
