Operations & Intelligence Failures — 2026-03-19
FBI CI-12 Counterintelligence Unit Gutted of Iran Specialists Before Military Operations
Patel fired a dozen agents from CI-12, the counterintelligence squad tracking Iranian regime threats, days before strikes began. All were involved in the Trump classified documents investigation. At the HPSCI hearing, Patel claimed the Iran threats mission center 'has never been more resourced,' directly contradicting former NSD head Olsen's assessment that the FBI lost its most capable Iran-threat personnel.
Analysis
This story appeared in the 03/18 IC Brief. Today's HPSCI testimony adds Patel's direct rebuttal. The contradiction between Patel's 'never more resourced' claim and multiple former officials' accounts of devastation is now a matter of congressional record.
This story appeared in the 03/18 IC Brief. Today's HPSCI testimony adds Patel's direct rebuttal. The contradiction between Patel's 'never more resourced' claim and multiple former officials' accounts of devastation is now a matter of congressional record.