Overview
- The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Washington, seeks reinstatement, back pay, damages, expungement of records, and a declaration that the September terminations were unconstitutional.
- Termination letters signed by Patel cited "unprofessional conduct and a lack of impartiality" that allegedly led to the "political weaponization of government."
- The agents contend they knelt near the National Archives on June 4, 2020, to de-escalate a volatile crowd after being deployed without crowd-control gear or training.
- An internal FBI review by the then-deputy director and a Justice Department inspector general inquiry concluded the agents acted without political motive and should not be disciplined.
- The suit alleges the firings were politically motivated, followed demotions and a new inquiry after Patel took over this year, occurred while an internal review was pending, and add to other ongoing challenges to personnel moves at the FBI; the Bureau declined to comment.