Former FBI Agents Sue Kash Patel After Dismissals
Three former high-ranking FBI officials have filed a lawsuit against Kash Patel, claiming their dismissals were part of a retaliatory campaign orchestrated by the Trump administration.
Brian Driscoll, who served as acting director prior to Patel’s confirmation, reportedly turned down an early request to oversee the list of agents involved in the January 6th investigation. He was fired in August alongside Steve Jensen, the assistant director of the Washington Field Office, and Spencer Evans, a special agent in the Las Vegas Field Office.
The 68-page suit alleges that Patel and others initiated a “campaign of retaliation” against the plaintiffs for not exhibiting what the defendants believed to be sufficient political loyalty.
According to the lawsuit, “By dismissing three of the FBI’s most seasoned operational leaders, his actions jeopardize national security, as each of them has expertise in counter-terrorism and crime reduction.”
The document also suggests that the shootings connected to the Trump administration were directed by higher-ups. Driscoll asserted in the lawsuit that Patel failed to contest how they framed their conversation, even though Patel acknowledged that the shooting might be illegal during that period.
The lawsuit claims Patel stated that his superior had to dismiss individuals who advised him to fire others, arguing that his own job security hinged on letting go of agents working on cases tied to the president.
Furthermore, Patel reportedly mentioned that the FBI aimed to imprison the president, suggesting that he held onto this grievance. Driscoll interpreted Patel’s reference to “his boss” as implicating the DOJ and the White House, a notion Patel did not dispute.
Driscoll argued that removing employees based on case assignments would violate internal FBI protocols designed to prevent retaliatory actions stemming from such allocations. Patel seemed to recognize that the nature of the dismissal could be considered illegal, indicating that it might lead to future legal consequences for himself.
The FBI has opted not to comment on the ongoing lawsuit.
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