FBI suspends analyst who investigated Russian meddling

The FBI has suspended counterintelligence analyst Brian Auten, who worked on the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. The suspension follows Kash Patel's promise to avoid partisan actions. Auten's suspension, the reasons for which are unclear, comes after Patel told lawmakers the bureau would not punish employees for political reasons. Patel has previously criticized Auten and the Russia investigation. The move is likely to raise questions about retaliation and Patel's commitment to impartiality, especially given Auten's involvement in investigations that angered Trump allies.