US EditionTwelve ex-FBI agents who kneeled to quell 2020 protests sue for unlawful firings
The lawsuit claims the agents were fired in a politically motivated purge after using a tactical de-escalation method during 2020 protests, seeking reinstatement and back pay.
- On Monday, a dozen former FBI special agents filed a federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia seeking reinstatement after being terminated this year for kneeling during a June 4, 2020 protest.
- Plaintiffs say they kneeled for apolitical tactical reasons to defuse a volatile crowd near the National Archives on June 4, 2020, lacking riot gear or crowd-control training.
- Senior FBI reviews found the kneeling had no political motive, and the Justice Department inspector general found no misconduct, despite viral photos and criticism from social media critics.
- The agents received terse September termination letters from Kash Patel, stating, `You have demonstrated unprofessional conduct and a lack of impartiality in carrying out duties, leading to the political weaponization of government`, the lawsuit alleges.
- The suit positions the case amid a broader pattern of firings in recent months targeting employees linked to President Donald Trump or displaying an LGBTQ+ flag, raising First and Fifth Amendment claims.
160 Articles
160 Articles
Ex-FBI agents sue Patel over protest firing
What happenedA dozen former FBI agents fired for kneeling during a 2020 racial justice protest in Washington, D.C., filed a joint lawsuit Monday against FBI Director Kash Patel and the Trump administration, alleging unlawful retaliation. The former counterterrorism agents, deployed by President Donald Trump to manage protests sparked by the police killing of George Floyd, said in their lawsuit they had “kneeled for apolitical tactical reasons to…
Fired FBI Agents Sue After Being Purged For Kneeling At BLM Protest
Twelve former FBI agents fired for kneeling during a 2020 Black Lives Matter protest have filed a lawsuit to reclaim their badges, arguing their actions were a desperate tactical decision to save lives rather than a political statement. The federal lawsuit, filed Monday, challenges the agency’s decision to terminate the agents in September. The plaintiffs […] Fired FBI Agents Sue After Being Purged For Kneeling At BLM Protest
Fired FBI agents sue Trump Administration
(NBC, KYMA) - Several former FBI agents are suing the Trump Administration after they were fired for kneeling during protests following the death of George Floyd. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of 12 ex-agents, claims the Justice Department (DOJ) unlawfully terminated the group earlier this year, based on the perception that they were "not affiliated with President Trump." The suit explains that in 2020, the agents were confronted by a crowd who s…
A group of former FBI agents sued the agency and the Department of Justice on Monday on the grounds that they were illegally and unfairly fired for kneeling during a racial justice protest in Washington DC in the summer of 2020.]]>
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 64% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
