1,100 videos serve as evidence to apprehend the mastermind who incited the riots.
1,100 videos serve as evidence to apprehend the mastermind who incited the riots.
Washington, D.C. - July 10, 2026
Former FBI Director Christopher Wray has not been arrested, charged with treason, or accused of conspiring to overthrow the government, despite widespread online rumors to the contrary.
Wray voluntarily resigned as director in January 2025, prior to the start of President Donald Trump’s second term. He was succeeded by Kash Patel, who assumed the role in February 2025. Official records show no criminal proceedings or arrest warrants have been issued against Wray since his departure from the bureau.
The rumors appear to stem from long-running political disputes surrounding the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. In late 2025, President Trump and several conservative media outlets renewed claims that the FBI had embedded undercover agents among the crowd to incite violence. Trump publicly suggested that the Department of Justice might investigate Wray over the matter.
During his tenure, Wray repeatedly testified before Congress and rejected these allegations. He described claims that the FBI orchestrated or provoked the January 6 events as baseless. The bureau maintained that its personnel present that day were performing standard crowd-control and evidence-gathering duties after the violence had already begun.
Much of the confusion in recent online videos and posts appears to arise from a misunderstanding of legal terminology. Between 2023 and 2024, the Republican-led House Oversight Committee issued subpoenas to Wray requesting documents related to the investigation of President Joe Biden’s family. These were formal requests for information and testimony, not arrest warrants. The disputes were ultimately resolved through negotiations between the executive branch and Congress, without any physical detention or criminal charges against Wray.
“There is no basis in fact for claims that Director Wray was arrested or charged with any crime,” a Justice Department official familiar with the matter said.
Current FBI leadership under Director Patel has not indicated any active criminal investigation into Wray’s conduct during his time as director. The bureau continues to focus on its operational priorities, while public discussion of past controversies remains largely confined to political commentary and social media.
The circulation of unverified claims about high-profile former officials highlights ongoing challenges in distinguishing between legitimate political debate and misinformation. As of now, no credible evidence has emerged to support allegations of criminal conduct by Wray, and official records confirm he left office through standard resignation procedures rather than under any legal compulsion.
Iranian ‘Sleeper Cells’ Could Be Activated Inside US: Terrorism Experts
American counterterrorism agencies are quietly keeping an eye on suspected sleeper cells within the U.S. following joint military strikes by the U.S. and Israel on Iran, according to reports this week that cited counterterrorism experts. The increased surveillance comes amid rising concerns about potential retaliation from operatives or sympathizers linked to Iran.
In response, federal and local law enforcement have ramped up security across major U.S. cities as a precautionary measure, even though no specific or credible threats have been publicly identified.
This heightened alert follows a significant operation over the weekend, named Operation Epic Fury, which resulted in the deaths of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several high-ranking Iranian officials in a coordinated military effort between the U.S. and Israel. Security experts caution that the repercussions of these events could reach far beyond the Middle East.
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“If ever there’s going to be a Hezbollah cell or a Hamas cell act in the United States in a violent way, it’s now,” Chris Swecker, a former assistant FBI director, told Fox News.
“Both organizations are Iranian-backed all the way. Both organizations have had a presence in the United States since the 1980s,” he added.
Swecker went on to say that U.S. state and federal authorities have, for some time now, been aware of domestic networks and sympathizers.
“We know that they have cells here. We also know that there are lone sympathizers, many of whom have come out in these protest groups,” he added, going on to cite former President Joe Biden’s insane open borders policy that likely made the situation worse.
“We just come off four years of open borders, and I have said before that that was an open door for terrorists to terrorist cells and terror sympathizers to infiltrate. Many were already here, but it’s impossible that they would not infiltrate into these particular groups and sort of act as catalysts, as enablers,” he told the outlet.
In light of the strikes against Iran, the FBI is taking steps to strengthen its domestic security measures. Director Kash Patel announced on Saturday that counterterrorism and intelligence teams are currently on high alert due to ongoing U.S. activities related to Iran.
“Last night, I instructed our Counterterrorism and intelligence teams to be on high alert and mobilize all assisting security assets needed,” Patel wrote on X.
Patel noted further that while the U.S. military is handling force protection overseas, the FBI “remains at the forefront of deterring attacks here at home” and will continue working around the clock to protect Americans.
Jason Pack, a retired supervisory special agent with the FBI and a Fox News contributor, stated that increased monitoring is standard practice when U.S. military operations engage with adversaries known to respond with indirect or unconventional strategies.
“The intelligence and counterterrorism communities work on this kind of scenario continuously, long before any conflict begins,” Pack said. “When the United States commits to a joint military campaign with Israel, the domestic threat environment doesn’t simply remain static. It could shift, potentially significantly.”
He pointed out that adversarial groups — such as Hezbollah, Hamas’s external networks, and proxies of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps — have a history of both intent and, in some instances, the means to retaliate against U.S. military actions.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) on Monday warned that the possibility of Iranian “sleeper cells” is being “seriously” evaluated in the Lone Star state, The Hill reported.
Federal authorities are investigating a shooting that occurred on Sunday in Austin, Texas, as a potential terrorist attack. The shooter killed two people and injured 14 others.
He was wearing a shirt that had the phrase “Property of Allah” printed on it, along with a design featuring the Iranian flag.
“Early that morning, on Saturday morning, we made clear to the public that the state of Texas is taking seriously the possibility of terrorist activity, lone wolf, lone wolf activity,” Abbott told Fox on Monday.
⚠️ TRUMP JUST TOOK A BOMBSHELL HIT — SHOCKING RESIGNATION NOBODY SAW COMING!
🚨 PENTAGON SHAKE-UP — TOP U.S. GENERAL CHRISTOPHER DONAHUE LEAVES EUROPE & NATO COMMANDS!
Gen. Christopher Donahue, one of the U.S. Army's most experienced combat commanders and the officer widely remembered as the last American service member to leave Afghanistan in 2021, has relinquished his senior commands in Europe as he moves toward retirement during a broader reshaping of the Pentagon's top ranks under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Donahue stepped down as commanding general of U.S. Army Europe and Africa on July 2 after roughly 18 months in the position. The Army placed his deputy, Maj. Gen. Christopher R. Norrie, in charge on an acting basis while the administration considers a permanent successor who would require presidential nomination and Senate confirmation.
Donahue also held a second, NATO role as commander of Allied Land Command in Izmir, Türkiye. The Army said he would relinquish that command on July 9, meaning both of the senior positions he had held since December 2024 are now behind him.
That timing matters because some reports have described Donahue as merely preparing to leave. By August, however, his departure from the two operational commands had already occurred. What remains less clear publicly is the precise effective date of his retirement from active Army service.
Hegseth Requested the Retirement, According to Reporting
The Army's public statement thanked Donahue for his leadership but did not provide a detailed reason for his departure. Fox News reported that Donahue submitted retirement paperwork at Hegseth's request. The Associated Press likewise described the move as an unexpected departure that came as the Pentagon was reducing the number of senior officers.
Because the Defense Department has not publicly released a personnel order explaining the decision in detail, the claim that Hegseth personally requested the retirement should be attributed to reporting rather than presented as part of the Army's formal explanation.
Donahue's exit is part of a much larger turnover among the military's senior leadership. Hegseth has repeatedly argued that the armed forces should reduce the number of generals and admirals and redirect attention and resources toward operational forces and enlisted personnel. The administration has summarized that approach with the phrase 'less generals, more GIs.'
Supporters of the restructuring argue that a leaner senior command structure can reduce bureaucracy and sharpen accountability. Critics, including some former defense officials and lawmakers, have questioned whether the rapid removal or early departure of highly experienced officers risks weakening continuity at a time of major security challenges in Europe, the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific.
A High-Profile Combat Career
Donahue graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and spent much of his career in special operations. He served in elite units and held command roles during operations in Iraq and Afghanistan before taking command of the 82nd Airborne Division in July 2020.
His most widely recognized public moment came during the final U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021. Donahue was brought to Kabul as the 82nd Airborne Division helped secure Hamid Karzai International Airport during the emergency evacuation that followed the collapse of the Afghan government and the Taliban's return to power.
On Aug. 30, 2021, a night-vision image showed Donahue boarding the final U.S. C-17 to depart Kabul. The photograph became one of the defining images of the end of America's nearly 20-year war in Afghanistan.
The evacuation airlift moved more than 120,000 people out of Afghanistan in a matter of weeks. Donahue's role in the airport operation received praise from officials in both parties even as the wider withdrawal drew intense criticism over planning, the collapse of the Afghan government and the deadly security conditions surrounding the airport.
The distinction is particularly important when discussing the Aug. 26, 2021, ISIS-K suicide bombing at Abbey Gate. The attack killed 13 U.S. service members and scores of Afghan civilians. Marines were responsible for security at Abbey Gate, rather than soldiers under Donahue's direct tactical control at that location. That does not remove the incident from the broader evacuation he helped oversee, but it avoids incorrectly assigning him direct responsibility for the gate's security.
Afghanistan Review Adds Political Context
President Donald Trump and Hegseth have continued to criticize the Biden administration's handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal. In May 2026, Hegseth ordered another Pentagon review of the evacuation and withdrawal despite earlier examinations by the Defense Department, U.S. Central Command, the State Department and congressional committees.
There is no public evidence establishing that Donahue was removed because of misconduct during the Afghanistan operation. Existing reporting instead places his departure within the administration's broader effort to reshape senior military leadership, while also noting that Afghanistan remains an important political and institutional backdrop.
For that reason, it would be misleading to state as fact that Donahue was forced out specifically as punishment for the 2021 withdrawal unless the Pentagon or other authoritative evidence establishes that connection.
Donahue Became a Central Figure in U.S. and NATO Planning in Europe
After Afghanistan, Donahue's career continued to rise. He later commanded XVIII Airborne Corps and became deeply involved in U.S. military activity in Europe following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
He assumed command of U.S. Army Europe and Africa and NATO Allied Land Command in December 2024, receiving his fourth star in connection with the assignment. Those dual roles made him one of the most influential American land-force commanders in Europe.
During his tenure, Donahue focused heavily on integrating U.S. and allied land forces, improving readiness along NATO's eastern flank and adapting conventional formations to a battlefield increasingly shaped by drones, electronic warfare and rapid data sharing.
The Army credited Donahue with helping develop and scale the Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative, a concept intended to connect U.S. and allied forces more closely with NATO's regional defense plans. The initiative emphasizes a digital operating picture, faster decision-making and the integration of manned and unmanned systems.
Officials and military observers also highlighted Donahue's experience with the lessons emerging from the war in Ukraine. Reporting described him as one of the Army's most knowledgeable senior leaders on drone warfare and on the changing character of large-scale land combat.
Norrie Takes Over as Acting Commander
Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie is now serving as acting commanding general of U.S. Army Europe and Africa. The Army says he will remain in that role until a permanent successor is nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate.
Norrie is an armor officer with previous command experience in Europe and at major Army training formations. His temporary appointment provides continuity while the administration decides whether the U.S. Army Europe and Africa position will remain structured as a four-star command.
That question has not been definitively resolved in public. The Associated Press reported that Army officials were discussing whether to downgrade the command from a four-star billet to a three-star billet. Such a move would fit the Pentagon's effort to reduce the number of senior general and flag officers, but discussion of a change should not be reported as a final decision unless the department formally announces it.
The Departure Comes During a Wider Review of U.S. Forces in Europe
Donahue's exit also coincides with a broader reassessment of the American military posture in Europe. Hegseth announced a six-month Pentagon review intended to examine U.S. deployments and push NATO allies toward assuming greater responsibility for the continent's conventional defense.
The review reflects one of the Trump administration's central arguments about NATO: European members should spend more on defense and provide more of the forces required for their own security, while the United States retains the ability to respond to major threats without carrying as much of the routine burden.
That policy debate gives Donahue's departure significance beyond the career of a single officer. U.S. Army Europe and Africa is a key operational headquarters for American land forces across two continents, and its future rank structure, staffing and mission could affect how Washington organizes deterrence against Russia and supports allied forces.
Four-Star Retirement Rules Are More Complicated Than a Simple Benefits Question
Another point requiring care involves Donahue's retirement grade. Federal law generally requires commissioned officers to serve at least three years in a grade above captain before voluntarily retiring in that grade. The defense secretary may reduce that requirement to no less than two years in certain cases, while the president may waive the service-in-grade requirement in an individual case involving extreme hardship or exceptional or unusual circumstances.
Donahue became a four-star general in December 2024. If he retires from active service before satisfying the applicable service-in-grade requirement and seeks to retire in the grade of general, additional statutory action would therefore be required. The law also requires the secretary of defense to certify that an officer retiring as a three- or four-star officer served satisfactorily in that grade.
It is more accurate to describe this as an issue involving eligibility to retire in the four-star grade, rather than simply saying Donahue needs a presidential waiver to receive 'full four-star benefits.' His eventual retired grade and retired pay depend on the statutory process and any reduction or waiver that may be approved.
What Is Confirmed and What Remains Unclear
Several facts are established. Donahue relinquished U.S. Army Europe and Africa on July 2 after approximately 18 months in command. Norrie is serving as acting commander. Donahue also relinquished NATO Allied Land Command on July 9. He submitted retirement paperwork amid Hegseth's wider campaign to reduce senior military leadership, according to multiple reports.
It is also clear that Donahue leaves behind an unusually prominent military record, spanning special operations, Iraq and Afghanistan, command of the 82nd Airborne Division, the Kabul evacuation and senior responsibility for U.S. and NATO land forces in Europe.
What has not been publicly established is a detailed official explanation for why Hegseth wanted Donahue to leave, whether Afghanistan was a direct factor in the decision, exactly when Donahue's retirement from active service becomes effective, or whether the U.S. Army Europe and Africa commander billet will ultimately be reduced from four stars to three.
Those unanswered questions are likely to keep the departure under scrutiny. Donahue was widely regarded inside the Army as a potential candidate for even higher command, including possible future service as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. His early exit therefore represents not just another personnel change, but a visible example of how rapidly the Pentagon's senior leadership structure is being remade under the current administration.
