Senator Chuck Grassley has now revealed that of the 665 FBI agents facing misconduct investigations have decided to quit or retire from the bureau between 2004 and 2020. This in order to avoid being punished. The senator posted some excerpts from internal documents. They were sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee and him by an anonymous user.

One of the documents was titled “Retirements and Resignations During Unwelcome Sexual Conduct Adjudications.” It noted that 45 senior-level employees were among the 665 agents who decided to leave the agency while they were being investigated.

“665 FBI employees, including 45 [Senior Executive Service (SES)]-level employees have retired or resigned following an FBI or [Justice Department Office of Inspector General (OIG)] investigation into alleged misconduct, but prior to [the Office of Professional Responsibility’s (OPR)] issuance of a final disciplinary letter,” the document read.

The second document went on to note that the agency failed to implement a zero-tolerance policy for any sexual misconduct. This was put in place back In December 2020 by FBI director Christopher Wray.

665 Left FBI Over Misconduct in Two Decades

“[R]ecent sexual misconduct cases appear to show OPR’s application of this directive has resulted in seemingly random penalties and disparate treatment, potentially compromising the consistency, fairness, and due process of the FBI’s disciplinary system.”

Grassley went on to demand answers about certain issues in a letter to attorney general Merrick Garland and Wray. He wrote, “Simply put, these two documents show a systemic failure within the Justice Department and FBI to protect female employees from sexual harassment and sexual misconduct in the workplace and a failure to sufficiently punish employees for that same misconduct. FBI employees should not have to suffer under daily abuse and misconduct by their colleagues and supervisors.”

He continued, “The allegations and records paint a disgraceful picture of abuse that women within the FBI have had to live with for many years. “This abuse and misconduct are outrageous and beyond unacceptable.”

Grassley’s Office went on to suggest that the actual figure of those who left could be larger. This since the data doesn’t include departures that occurred prior to or during the start of the misconduct investigation. According to the Associated Press, the investigation that spawned the report found that the bureau had opted to transfer those who are facing accusations or allowed them to retire. This would allow employees to keep their benefits and pensions. All while officials investigate the allegations of all women taming anonymity after the investigation closes.