FBI Agents seek legal action against DOJ over list of staff in Trump cases
at Mar-a-Lago.
The nine agents who brought the lawsuit seek to represent over 6,000 current and former FBI employees involved in the investigation and prosecution of crimes and abuses of power related to Donald Trump. Special Counsel Jack Smith secured a grand jury indictment of Trump in 2023 and successfully prosecuted over 1,500 individuals connected to the January 6 attack, although many have since been pardoned.
Following Trump’s inauguration, attorneys who prosecuted the January 6 and Mar-a-Lago cases were fired by the DOJ due to perceived political loyalties aligned with the Trump administration. The possibility of FBI agents facing similar repercussions led to concerns among employees who were instructed to report their involvement in these cases or face potential termination.
The agents claim that the creation of this list lacks a legitimate agency purpose and violates their constitutional rights. They argue that the First Amendment protects government employees from discrimination based on political beliefs. The Trump administration’s perceived lack of political affiliation with individuals involved in these cases has raised concerns among FBI agents.
Furthermore, the agents argue that their rights under the 5th Amendment to privacy, due process, and protection against reputational harm have been violated. Allegations of wrongful, dishonest, politically motivated, or improper work on these cases have damaged their reputations. Concerns of personal information being exposed on the dark web and potential unauthorized access by external parties are highlighted by the agents.
The FBI agents stress the severe personal harm and reputational damage that could result from the release of this list. They argue that national security could be compromised if this information falls into the wrong hands, urging the federal court to block its aggregation, storage, or dissemination. The FBI Agents Association has also filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government, citing violations of the Administrative Procedure Act and seeking to prevent the collection and dissemination of personally identifiable information.
In light of these lawsuits, FBI employees are standing up to protect their rights and privacy in the face of potential repercussions for their involvement in Trump-related cases. The legal actions taken aim to safeguard the integrity of government agencies and protect the constitutional rights of all individuals, irrespective of political affiliations.