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A former FBI agent and COVID-era whistleblower who was recently reinstated to his position under the President. Donald Trump He was fired on Friday, according to the report.
The FBI fired Steve Friend for “unprofessional conduct and poor judgment,” according to a copy of the termination letter posted on X by New York Post columnist Miranda Devine.
An FBI source confirmed the dismissal but did not go into detail, saying it was a personnel matter.
The FBI said in the letter that Friend “engaged in unauthorized interactions with the media, publicly disseminated media sources, and publicly commented on FBI matters and ongoing FBI investigations.”
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Whistleblowers and former FBI special agents Garrett O'Boyle and Steve Friend testified before Congress on May 18. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Friend was first suspended by the FBI in August 2022 and resigned in February 2023. He was reinstated in September.
In the letter, the FBI said that in November, Friend “disseminated media sources and photographs identifying the alleged subject and discussed the alleged subject on his podcast, despite the lack of credible, verifiable evidence necessary to publicly identify the subject.”
When contacted by Fox News Digital for comment, Friend said his firing was retaliation by FBI Director Kash Patel.
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Steve Friend, a former FBI agent and COVID-era whistleblower who was recently reinstated, was fired on Friday, according to a report. (Getty Images/Fox News Digital)
Friend's departure from the bureau comes after his lawyers at Empower Oversight Whistleblowers & Research dropped him as a client on Dec. 5.
The nonprofit said in a letter to Friend that he ignored its advice by commenting publicly on FBI matters “at the risk of further adverse administrative action” from the bureau.
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The FBI fired whistleblower Steve Friend on December 12, according to the report. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP)
“In light of your apparent reluctance to follow the free professional advice we have given you, we are even more convinced that our previously expressed failure to represent you in any matter legal issues except that your reinstatement was warranted,” the nonprofit wrote.
“We are no longer willing or able to spend additional time and resources representing you or providing advice moving forward.”
