Twelve FBI agents claim they were targeted for perceived disloyalty to the president, and what cost them their jobs is now the basis of a massive lawsuit

Twelve fired FBI agents have filed a massive civil lawsuit claiming they were unlawfully terminated for kneeling during a racial justice protest five years ago in Washington, DC, according to the BBC. This is a huge development and it sounds like a real mess for the FBI’s leadership.

The dozen sacked agents, nine women and three men, are arguing that their decision to kneel was a strategic move made under dangerous circumstances. The protest took place shortly after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis sparked protests across the US and the world. The atmosphere in the capital city was incredibly tense, and the agents say they were “confronted by a mob” during their deployment. They claim they were ill-prepared for the severity of the situation they faced.

Their legal filing explains that taking a knee was a “considered tactical decision” intended to de-escalate the tension. They said they specifically “avoided triggering violence by assuming a kneeling posture.” This gesture had often been used during that period of national unrest to lessen tensions between law enforcement officers and communities. If their account is accurate, the agents were simply doing their job by preventing a much worse confrontation.

It’s awful that a tactical decision meant to keep people safe could cost them their careers.

The agents are seeking reinstatement in their positions and are demanding back pay. They claim their termination letters accused them of “a lack of impartiality” in their duties. What’s particularly striking about this case is the timing. The agents highlight that their dismissal letters arrived more than five years after the incident actually occurred.

The core of the agents’ complaint is that they were “targeted” because their choice of tactics on that day led to a “perceived lack of affiliation” with President Trump, who was in office during the protests. They believe they were fired on the orders of FBI boss Kash Patel, who is named as a defendant in the lawsuit. Patel recently came under scrutiny for sending a whole FBI SWAT team to watch his girlfriend.

Patel has faced accusations of leading a wider crackdown on personnel who are viewed as disloyal to President Trump, his ally. While the FBI has declined to comment on the new civil case, Patel has previously denied that any sackings at the agency were politically motivated. Amid recent speculation about Patel’s future as the head of the agency, the White House released a statement defending him. They emphasized that Patel is “a critical member of the president’s team and he is working tirelessly to restore integrity to the FBI.”

It’s clear this isn’t an isolated incident either. This civil case, filed in the District of Columbia, follows another lawsuit filed by former FBI acting director Brian Driscoll and others. They also alleged that their terminations were acts of political retribution. Notably, there have been countless allegations of political retribution during Trump’s second term. The agents are highlighting that their actions were reviewed at the time by both the FBI and the Department of Justice, of which the FBI is a part.

It seems unbelievable that a tactical decision made in the heat of a dangerous moment could be weaponized years later. You’re watching a situation where agents who claim they prevented violence are now fighting for their jobs because of perceived politics. This whole situation is definitely going to put the spotlight squarely on the internal workings of the FBI.