Overview
- The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, seeks reinstatement, a declaration that the firings were unconstitutional, back pay, damages, and expungement of personnel records.
- The agents say they took a knee on June 4, 2020 near the National Archives to calm a volatile crowd and that the gesture was not political expression.
- An FBI internal review by the then–deputy director and a Justice Department inspector general review found no political motive and criticized how the agents were deployed.
- The plaintiffs allege Director Kash Patel ordered identification of those who kneeled, several were demoted in April, and all 12 were terminated in September while an internal inquiry was still pending.
- Termination letters cited “unprofessional conduct” and “lack of impartiality,” the FBI declined to comment, and the case follows separate suits by other recently ousted FBI leaders.