FBI Demotes Agents Over Odd Request Linked to Stephen Miller

The FBI reassigned and demoted two veteran counterterrorism officials from their Washington posts after they questioned a request tied to alleged harassing phone calls targeting Katie Miller, the wife of White House adviser Stephen Miller, according to reports. Michael Burgwald, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Washington Counterterrorism Division, and his deputy Courtland Rae were moved to FBI headquarters, MSNOW reported. The change followed questions about whether a threat assessment was legally justified and supported. The FBI said Director Kash Patel did not order the decision, and FBI co–deputy director Christopher Raia said it reflected factors not included in reporting. CNN reported a review found the calls did not meet the threshold for an FBI investigation. A White House official disputed that explanation, saying FBI leadership acted to prevent “stifling” serious threats.