Amid ongoing investigations into the January 6 Capitol riot, the FBI has provided the Justice Department with a list of around 4,000 bureau employees involved in the probe. Instead of names, the FBI used unique employee identifiers for security reasons. This move came in response to a directive from the previous administration to identify all current and former FBI personnel working on Jan. 6 cases or prosecuting Hamas leaders. The Trump Justice Department’s memo also led to the firing of eight senior FBI officials, sparking concerns of a broader purge within the agency.

In response to fears of potential retaliation against FBI agents involved in the investigations, two lawsuits were filed by FBI agents in federal court in Washington, D.C. These suits aim to prevent the disclosure of FBI employees’ personal information, citing concerns that such data could be used by allies of former President Trump to target agents and their families. The lawsuits highlight instances where Capitol riot defendants, including those pardoned by Trump, have openly discussed seeking retribution against FBI officials.

As the situation unfolds, the FBI Agents Association and a group of nine FBI agents are actively working to safeguard their identities and protect themselves from potential harm. The Justice Department has not provided comments on the matter, leaving agents and their representatives to navigate the complex landscape of security concerns and legal actions in the aftermath of the Capitol riot investigations.