Washington (CNN)The professional association that advocates for federal law enforcement agents warned members of the US Secret Service Tuesday that their personal phone numbers the agency recently released "will likely be used" in a criminal investigation, according to a copy of a letter sent to agents and obtained by CNN.

Last week, CNN reported that the personal cell phone numbers of Secret Service agents had been provided to government oversight bodies probing January 6. The decision to hand over agents' personal phone numbers is highly unusual and came after weeks of scrutiny over deleted Secret Service text messages from January 5 and 6, 2021.

"Exactly whose numbers were provided, to whom and for what purpose have yet to be determined however, the information will likely be used for a criminal investigation into the USSS employee," the letter from the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association said.

The letter went to all members of the Secret Service who are members of the FLEOA.

The letter reminds agents that Secret Service attorneys represent the interests of the organization over the individual, and encouraged them to seek FLEOA legal counsel if anyone attempts to contact them about personal records.

Larry Cosme, president of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, blasted the Secret Service in a statement Monday.

"This is a classic demonstration of self-preservation and a desperate attempt by leadership to cover up for their own failings at the...

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