A federal lawsuit filed on September 10 has brought to light explosive allegations that three high-ranking Federal Bureau of Investigation officials were fired last month in what their lawyers describe as a “campaign of retribution” orchestrated by political forces within the Trump administration. The suit accuses FBI Director Kash Patel of carrying out dismissals he knew were likely illegal in order to appease the White House, compromising the bureau’s independence and undermining national security.

The complaint, filed in federal court in Washington DC, names Director Patel, Attorney General Pam Bondi, the FBI, the Justice Department, and the Executive Office of the President as defendants. It represents Brian Driscoll, Steve Jensen, and Spencer Evans, three of five officials reportedly ousted in a wave of personnel changes that current and former FBI leaders say has deeply unsettled the agency’s workforce.

According to the lawsuit, Patel explicitly acknowledged that firing agents based on the cases they handled was “likely illegal,” but he told Driscoll that he had no choice because the White House and Justice Department were intent on removing all officials who had investigated President Trump. Patel allegedly told Driscoll: “The FBI tried to put the president in jail and he hasn’t forgotten it.” The statement, the suit contends, reflects a deliberate campaign of retaliation against FBI personnel perceived as obstacles to the former president.

The plaintiffs argue that Patel acted unlawfully and prioritized political considerations over public safety. “His decision to do so degraded the country’s national security by firing three of the FBI’s most experienced operational leaders, each of them experts in preventing terrorism and reducing violent crime,” the lawsuit states. Spokespeople for the FBI declined to comment on the litigation, as they did after the agents’ dismissals.

The suit alleges that Patel’s actions were not isolated incidents but part of a broader effort to politicize personnel decisions at the bureau. “Patel not only acted unlawfully but deliberately chose to prioritize politicizing the FBI over protecting the American people,” the complaint asserts.

Beyond reinstatement, the lawsuit seeks back pay, a declaration that the firings were illegal, and a forum for the........

© Blitz