FBI Analyst Who Resigned Over Kash Patel Announces Congressional Run

A former FBI analyst who stepped down due to ideological clashes with President Donald Trump and FBI Director Kash Patel has officially announced a congressional run.

John Sullivan revealed that he will challenge Republican Rep. Michael Lawler for the seat in New York’s 17th Congressional District.

“For 17 years, I served in secret, protecting us from threats like Russia, foreign terrorists, and drug cartels, and eventually the insurrectionists who stormed our Capitol,” Sullivan stated in a post. “Now, I’m stepping out of the shadows to run for Congress.”

In a campaign video, he shared, “I’m a dad, a husband, a public servant, and a cancer survivor.”

Sullivan criticized Rep. Lawler, calling him “Elon Musk’s favorite congressman.”

He said he left the FBI in April, citing the Trump administration as the tipping point. Sullivan has labeled both Trump and Patel as threats to “American safety and security.”

“Last week, after nearly 17 years on the job, I resigned from the FBI,” he wrote on X. “I saw the threat Donald Trump and Kash Patel are to American safety and security and I couldn’t stand idly by any more.”

He also posted his full resignation letter to Substack, expressing frustration with Trump’s pardons of roughly 1,500 individuals involved in the January 6 riot. According to Sullivan, these individuals were “violent insurrectionists.”

“I’ve listened as employees recounted harrowing moments when violent insurrectionists, within hours of release, called their homes and threatened revenge,” Sullivan wrote. “These threats are real because Trump released 1,500 violent insurrectionists into our communities.”

He described his work on January 6 cases as “one of [his] proudest moments in the FBI.”

Meanwhile, under Director Kash Patel’s leadership, the FBI has seen a surge in interest from prospective agents, with record-breaking application numbers reported in his first full month.

Applications for FBI positions in March reached 5,577, per a Fox News report—the highest monthly total since April 2016, when the number hit 5,283.

Fox News Digital reviewed FBI data showing that average monthly applications in 2023 stood at 2,797, increasing to 3,383 in 2024.

“Director Patel and Deputy Director (Dan) Bongino have put a major emphasis on restoring confidence in federal law enforcement and boosting new agent recruiting. These record early returns certainly suggest the new FBI is heading in the right direction,” FBI spokesperson Ben Williamson said.

Since January, more than 10,000 applications for agent positions have been submitted.

The FBI received 4,143 applications in January, which marked both the start of Trump’s administration and Patel’s confirmation process. It was the largest monthly total since August 2020.

Erica Knight, a senior advisor to Patel, told Fox News Digital that the March numbers reflect growing public faith in Patel’s leadership: “The record number of FBI job applications in March shows that people are inspired by Kash Patel’s commitment to restoring integrity and effectiveness at the bureau.”

“Kash is dedicated to creating a stronger, more trusted FBI that serves the American people the way it was always meant to,” Knight said.

During his Senate confirmation hearing in late January, Patel pointed to poll numbers suggesting that only “40% of Americans hold a favorable view of the FBI” and said this “must change.”

“Public cooperation is vital for the bureau to solve crimes, and its declining reputation is already affecting recruitment efforts,” Patel testified.

To rebuild morale and attract quality candidates, Patel and Bongino have promoted a philosophy of “letting good cops be cops.”

In March, Patel released a recruitment video showing him alongside FBI agents in action, including clips from the elite hostage rescue team facility. The video ends with the message: “A renewed mission. A stronger future.”

The call to action? “Apply today at FBIJobs.gov.”

Patel and Bongino have also been encouraging stronger engagement with local law enforcement partners to further strengthen community trust and collaboration.