FBI veteran James Fox, already on the verge of retirement, was ousted as head of the agency's New York office because of his televised comments about the World Trade Center bombing, an FBI spokesman said Tuesday.
FBI Director Louis Freeh ordered Fox out because the comments were "inappropriate to that particular case at that particular time," said John Kundts, a bureau spokesman in Washington.Fox, an FBI assistant director who was in charge of the New York office, was placed on administrative leave with pay until his scheduled Jan. 3 retirement, Kundts said.
Fox's comments, said the spokesman, were deeemed to violate Department of Justice and FBI guidelines governing release of information to the public.
WPIX-TV on Dec. 4 broadcast an interview with Fox about the Feb. 26 bombing that killed six people and injured more than 1,000.
New York Newsday reported the FBI suspended the 31-year veteran of the agency on Dec. 10.
The newspaper cited sources as saying the comments at issue concerned FBI informant Emad Salem and reports that he provided information about the bombing before it happened.