House Judiciary Democrats have released an investigation claiming the Justice Department approved over 3 million dollars in payments to former FBI agents who were fired for serious misconduct, The Hill reported. The findings suggest these funds were distributed to individuals who faced discipline for national security breaches, criminal activity, and major violations of professional standards.
Rep. Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the committee, directed a letter to acting Attorney General Todd Blanche regarding these expenditures. Raskin wrote, “You have now proceeded behind closed doors to order the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to pay millions of dollars to former FBI agents who were suspended, fired, and had their clearances revoked for criminal activity, major breaches of national security, or violations of the standards of conduct and professionalism required of law enforcement agents. All of these handouts constitute an astounding and lawless abuse of government office and taxpayer dollars.”
The timing of this disclosure is notable as FBI Director Kash Patel is scheduled to testify before Senate appropriators regarding the bureau’s budget. While the letter identifies specific payments totaling over 630,000 dollars, a committee spokeswoman stated that information received indicates the FBI actually paid more than 3 million dollars to these agents. Raskin further alleged that political appointees and staffers for Sen. Chuck Grassley have been personally involved in these funding decisions, calling them “dumbfounding.”
The investigation focuses on several specific cases, disputing the narrative that these individuals were whistleblowers
One agent was fired for allegedly refusing to participate in an investigation into the white nationalist group Patriot Front and was also accused of engaging in commercial sex while on an overseas assignment. Empower Oversight, the nonprofit representing these agents, denies the sex work allegation and claims the agent was actually concerned about the integrity of the Patriot Front investigation.
Another case involves an agent who entered a restricted area during the January 6, 2021, events at the Capitol. The Justice Department reached a 63,500 dollar settlement with this individual, though Raskin argued that the agent misled investigators about the incident. Empower Oversight maintains the agent was unaware he was in a restricted area and points to a report from the DOJ Office of Inspector General indicating the agent did not lack candor during a polygraph test.
A third agent received 15,000 dollars after resigning following a clearance suspension related to accusations of sharing classified information about Chinese intelligence with reporters. Raskin noted that an internal FBI review concluded the agent likely communicated classified data. Empower Oversight contends the agent did not leak information and suggests the disciplinary action was retaliatory due to the agent declining the COVID vaccine and questioning the bureau’s handling of certain investigations.
Raskin’s letter explicitly rejects the characterization of these individuals as whistleblowers. He wrote, “While Empower Oversight has brazenly described these scofflaws as ‘whistleblowers’ in press releases, none of them was ever disciplined for engaging in any purported ‘whistleblowing.’ They were disciplined for serious professional misconduct. Sleeping with sex workers, lying to government investigators, and refusing to investigate violent white nationalist groups are not ‘whistleblower’ activities.”
In response, Tristan Leavitt, president of Empower Oversight, criticized the letter, stating, “This letter is more a toddler’s temper tantrum than serious congressional oversight. It’s filled with shameless lies about our clients that would get him sued if he wasn’t protected by the Constitution’s Speech or Debate privilege.” A spokeswoman for Sen. Grassley also defended the senator’s involvement, describing the letter as a defamatory attempt to smear whistleblowers.
The Justice Department and the FBI have not responded to requests for comment. This report follows other recent settlements involving Michael Flynn and Carter Page, both of whom received 1.25 million dollars from the Justice Department.
Published: May 13, 2026 11:45 am