Did Three Ex-FBI Officials Sue Kash Patel and Pam Bondi Over Retaliation?

Washington, Sep 11 (NationPress) Three former FBI officials who were dismissed last month have initiated legal action against the Trump administration, claiming it orchestrated a campaign of retribution aimed at FBI personnel who exhibited inadequate loyalty to US President Donald Trump, unlawfully terminating them for political motives.

This lawsuit was lodged in the US District Court for the District of Columbia on Wednesday (local time). The defendants include the FBI, FBI Director Kash Patel, the Justice Department, Attorney General Pam Bondi, the Executive Office of the President, and the federal government.

The complaint states that the defendants initiated a campaign of retribution against the three plaintiffs for their perceived failure to show sufficient political loyalty, targeting them for their refusal to politicize the FBI.

On August 8, the FBI director dismissed the three officials through brief, one-page letters sent to each, which allegedly violated federal law and constitutional rights, as noted in the complaint. The three former FBI officials have dedicated decades of service to the nation, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

The complaint asserts, "Patel not only acted unlawfully but intentionally prioritized the politicization of the FBI over safeguarding the American populace." This decision, according to the complaint, undermined national security by terminating three of the FBI's most seasoned operational leaders, who were experts in combating terrorism and curbing violent crime.

One plaintiff, Brian J. Driscoll, briefly held the position of acting FBI director earlier this year. The complaint reveals that on January 29, Driscoll was instructed to compile a list of FBI personnel associated with the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot investigation. Under pressure, he ultimately submitted a list of around 6,000 individuals.

Moreover, the complaint indicates that Patel declared that all FBI employees identified as having worked on cases against President Trump would be dismissed, irrespective of their retirement status.

Patel also suggested to Driscoll that "the FBI attempted to imprison the President, and he hasn’t overlooked it."

The FBI has been involved in numerous investigations concerning Trump, including inquiries into whether Russia interfered in the 2016 election favoring Trump, investigations linked to the January 6 Capitol riot, and the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case in 2022.

Trump has consistently accused the Justice Department and the FBI of pursuing these investigations with political intentions and unfairly targeting him. In various public statements, interviews, and social media, Trump has often referred to these investigations as a "witch hunt".