Two Senior FBI Officials Removed Following Probe Into Harassing Calls to Katie Miller

Two senior Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) officials have been removed from their positions following an internal dispute over an investigation into alleged harassing phone calls made to Katie Miller, the wife of White House senior adviser Stephen Miller, according to CNN, citing two sources familiar with the matter.

The officials—Michael Bergwald, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Washington Field Office responsible for overseeing counterterrorism operations in the U.S. capital, and his deputy, Cortland Ray—have been reassigned to other positions.

According to the report, investigators at the Washington Field Office reviewed allegations involving anonymous phone calls received by Katie Miller, a conservative podcaster. After assessing the available information, the investigative team concluded that the case did not meet the FBI's threshold for opening a formal criminal investigation and decided not to pursue the matter further.

The decision reportedly dissatisfied senior FBI leadership, and shortly afterward, orders were issued removing the two veteran officials from their leadership roles.

The development comes amid broader scrutiny of personnel changes within the FBI since Kash Patel, a close ally of President Donald Trump, became FBI Director last year. Critics have alleged that numerous career officials involved in previous investigations concerning Trump or his associates have since been dismissed, demoted, or pressured into retirement.

The FBI, however, has denied that Patel played any role in the decision, stating that the personnel changes were made by the Washington Field Office following an internal evaluation of operational performance.

The removal of Bergwald and Ray—both experienced officials, with Bergwald being a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and a recipient of multiple professional commendations—has reportedly fueled concerns within the bureau over potential political interference in law enforcement decisions.