Head of New York’s FBI Field Office James Dennehy Says He Has Been ‘Forced’ To Retire

The story surrounding James E. Dennehy, the head of the FBI’s New York Field Office, centers on his forced retirement, which he announced to colleagues on March 3, 2025. Dennehy, a veteran FBI agent and former U.S. Marine, stated in an email to his staff that he was instructed on the previous Friday to submit his retirement papers immediately, effective that Monday. He noted, “I was not given a reason for this decision,” and expressed regret for not fulfilling his commitment to serve as Assistant Director in Charge (ADIC) of the New York office for at least two years.

Dennehy’s departure comes amid significant tension between the FBI and the Trump administration. Several factors appear to have contributed to his exit. In February 2025, Dennehy had sent a defiant email to his staff, urging them to “dig in” as the administration sought the names of FBI agents involved in investigating the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. This resistance followed a Justice Department directive, viewed by some as a potential precursor to mass firings of agents involved in those politically sensitive cases. His stance was seen as a defense of the bureau’s independence and its personnel, who he said were being targeted for doing their jobs “in accordance with the law and FBI policy.”

Additionally, controversy arose days before his retirement when Attorney General Pam Bondi accused the New York Field Office of withholding “thousands of pages” of documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking case. Bondi demanded an investigation into the matter and the immediate release of the full Epstein files, though no clear evidence has surfaced linking Dennehy directly to this issue or confirming the allegations of withheld documents. This accusation, combined with his earlier resistance to administration pressure, has fueled speculation about the motivations behind his forced retirement.

In his farewell message, Dennehy expressed pride in leading an office of professionals dedicated to doing “the right thing for the right reasons” and upholding the rule of law. He defiantly wrote, “I’ve been told many times in my life, ‘When you find yourself in a hole, sometimes it’s best to quit digging.’ Screw that. I will never stop defending this joint. I’ll just do it willingly and proudly from outside the wire.” He also listed things he’d miss about the FBI, including its independence, investigations, and camaraderie, emphasizing that the bureau “will not bend” or “falter.”

Dennehy’s exit is part of a broader shakeup within the FBI under the Trump administration, following the appointments of Kash Patel as FBI Director and Dan Bongino as Deputy Director. His forced retirement has raised concerns among some about politicization within the bureau, while others view it as a consequence of clashing with administration priorities. The exact reasons for his departure remain officially unstated, leaving room for interpretation based on the timing and context of these high-profile disputes.