A top Justice Department official has accused the FBI’s acting leaders of “insubordination” in a memo in which he sought to soothe anxiety inside the bureau over the potential for a broad purge of agents involved in investigating the Jan.

The acting deputy attorney general accused FBI leadership of “insubordination” by refusing to identify a “core team” of bureau employees who worked on January 6 investigations, while trying to assure that rank-and-file agents who “simply followed orders” will not be fired unless they “acted with corrupt or partisan intent,

Acting FBI Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove assured FBI employees that they will not face consequences if they followed orders an acted ethically in Jan. 6 investigations.

Acting U.S. Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove made the statements on Wednesday in a memo to staff seen by Reuters.

FBI agents who "simply followed orders and carried out their duties in an ethical manner" while investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot won't face the risk of being fired, a top Justice Department official said in a memo.

FBI agents who "simply followed orders and carried out their duties in an ethical manner" while investigating the Capitol riot shouldn't fear firing or other punishment, a top Justice Department official says.

The message from the acting deputy attorney general, which also accuses acting FBI Director Brian Driscoll of “insubordination,” is aimed at providing a measure of clarity following days of turmoil and uncertainty inside the bureau.

Thousands of FBI employees who participated in investigations related to Jan. 6 have been asked to complete in-depth questionnaires about their involvement in the inquiries.