“The FBI’s most fundamental principles is that investigative activity may not be based solely on the exercise of rights guaranteed by the First Amendment.”
Posted by Ben Smith
Patel Fires Five Tied to Anti-Catholic FBI Memo
“The FBI’s most fundamental principles is that investigative activity may not be based solely on the exercise of rights guaranteed by the First Amendment.”
Posted by Ben Smith Saturday, June 6, 2026 at 04:00pm 17 Comments
Five FBI employees tied to the bureau’s 2023 “Radical Traditionalist Catholics” memo were fired Friday, according to multiple reports. The four intelligence analysts and one supervisory analyst involved in drafting and approving the document had faced no discipline since the memo became public more than three years ago.
The news was first reported by Daily Wire reporter Mary Margaret Olohan, who said an FBI source confirmed the dismissals.
NEW: Five FBI employees were fired today over the infamous Richmond Catholic memo on “radical traditionalist Catholics,” FBI source confirms to @realDailyWire.
— Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) June 5, 2026
The Richmond Field Office produced the memo in January 2023. It examined what it described as a possible connection between “Radical Traditionalist Catholic” ideology and racially and ethnically motivated violent extremists, and discussed potential “tripwire and source development” opportunities within Catholic communities.
The document became public after a whistleblower provided it to Congress, triggering immediate backlash from lawmakers, religious liberty advocates, and Catholic organizations. Republicans argued the memo showed the FBI was scrutinizing Americans based on their religious beliefs.
Then-Attorney General Merrick Garland later told lawmakers he was “appalled” by the memo, while Wray repeatedly insisted the memo came from a single field office and was withdrawn once senior leadership saw it.