Senators Padilla, Schiff join Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats demanding answers in removal of DOJ, FBI officials

WASHINGTON, D.C. (KION) -- Two California senators, along with other Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats, are demanding answers on major changes within the Trump administration.
U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) have joined U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) as part of the committee seeking answers from the Trump administration over the removal and reassignment of officials from the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Committee states that the administration had reportedly purged dozens of DOJ and FBI officials who were a part of prosecuting those involved in the January 6th Capitol riots. This comes after President Donald Trump pardoned those involved in the riot that day.
"As America faces a heightened threat landscape, these shocking removals and reassignments deprive DOJ and the FBI of experienced, senior leadership and decades of experience fighting violent crime, espionage, and terrorism,” the Committee stated in a press release.
The Committee continued stating, "We can only assume these decisions are intended to prevent the Department from investigating national security and public corruption, while also serving as political retribution against the President’s perceived enemies and stoking fear among the dedicated and talented workforce in our nation’s premier law enforcement agency.”
Senior prosecutors of the DOJ were reportedly sent memos from Acting General James McHenry stating, "Given your significant role in prosecuting the President, I do not believe that the leadership of the Department can trust you to assist in implementing the President’s agenda faithfully."
FBI personnel were reportedly asked to complete a survey by Monday afternoon asking for their job titles if they worked a case related to the Capitol riot, and if they interviewed witnesses among other questions.
Other Senators on the committed include U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).