What did Donald Trump do today?

He carried out a series of purges.

This afternoon, Trump began firing Justice Department and FBI personnel who were involved in the investigation and prosecution of January 6 criminal cases. Those targeted include most if not all of the senior leadership of the FBI, thirty senior federal prosecutors, and potentially thousands of FBI agents and staff. The January 6 investigations were the largest collective action ever taken by the Bureau, in part because of the number of criminal defendants, and in part because of the seriousness of the crimes committed. 

UPDATE, 2/1: The number of agents that were involved and would be subject to this loyalty purge is now estimated to be about 6,000. There are fewer than 14,000 FBI agents all told.

Trump had already fired the prosecutors involved in the criminal trials against him personally, and at least 18 independent inspectors general at federal agencies. It is illegal to fire most such employees except for cause. (Taking part in lawfully authorized investigations which yielded grand jury indictments and convictions at trial is not grounds for dismissal.)

Acting FBI Director Brian Driscoll, who has indicated that he will not take part in an FBI purge, sent the following message tonight, in effect warning those under his command:

Colleagues,

We understand there's a lot of media reporting and rumors surrounding potential changes at the FBI. This includes reporting and rumors about actions that very seriously impact our workforce. Consistent with our commitment to share information with you as we receive it, acting Deputy Director Kissane and I wanted to provide you with an update.

Late this afternoon, I received a memo from the acting Deputy Attorney General [Emil Bove] notifying me that eight senior FBI executives are to be terminated by specific dates, unless these employees have retired beforehand. I have been personally in touch with each of these impacted employees. The memo also directs me to provide by noon on Tuesday, Feb. 4, the following:

"[A]ll current and former FBI personnel assigned at any time to investigations and/or prosecutions relating to (1) events that occurred at or near the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021 and (2) United States v Haniyeh, et al., 24 Mag. 438 (S.D.N.Y.). These lists should include relevant supervisory personnel in FBI regional offices and field divisions, as well as at FBI headquarters. For each employee included in the list, provide the current title, office to which the person is assigned, role in the investigation or prosecution, and date of last activity relating to the investigation or prosecution. Upon timely receipt of the requested information, the Office of the Deputy Attorney General will commence a review process to determine whether any additional personnel actions are necessary."

We understand that this request encompasses thousands of employees across the country who have supported these investigative efforts. I am one of those employees, as is acting Deputy Director Kissane. As we've said since the moment we agreed to take on these roles, we are going to follow the law, follow FBI policy, and do what's in the best interest of the workforce and the American people—always.

We will be back in touch with more information as soon as we can. In the meantime, stay safe, and take care of each other.

Brian J. Driscoll, Jr.

There are two immediate motives for these actions. One is that Trump, who is a convicted felon after prosecution on state charges unrelated to this purge of federal law enforcement, is characteristically seeking revenge.

The other is that he intends to make clear that anyone in government who acts against his political or personal interests will be forced to weigh the consequences of doing so. In the present climate, Trump is certainly expecting that will be taken as a threat against more than just their jobs. As the Washington Post reported tonight, FBI leadership now expects the names Trump hopes to collect to be released publicly, and was warning everyone from agents to low-level office staff to take precautions. Trump's allies, like recently-pardoned white supremacist militia leader Enrique Tarrio, have recently made public statements calling for retribution against government officials investigating the January 6 attempt to overthrow the results of the 2020 election and keep Trump in power.

Now that he is out, the Proud Boys leader wants revenge, [Tarrio] told Alex Jones, the conspiracy theorist host of Info Wars.

“The people who did this, they need to feel the heat, they need to be put behind bars, and they need to be prosecuted,” Tarrio said.

“Success is going to be retribution,” he added. “We gotta do everything in our power to make sure that the next four years sets us up for the next 100 years.”

 
Kash Patel, Trump's nominee to lead the FBI and the author of a children's book glorifying Trump, has made similar threats against the people who would be under his authority. Trump recently gifted Patel $800,000 in stock, which was listed in SEC filings as "consideration for services provided."

Why does this matter?

• Loyalty purges, ideology tests for police, and governing by threat of mob violence is what happens in failing dictatorships.