Ex-FBI employees involved in Trump classified documents case sue over ‘unlawful and hasty firings’

The lawsuit notes Starr gained access to the case file on Feb. 23, one day after a video of Patel drinking beer and partying with the U.S. men’s hockey team at the Winter Olympics began circulating widely online. He reportedly drew criticism from Trump at the time. The suit suggests Patel may have been trying to get back into Trump’s “good graces,” which is why he “summarily fired” the plaintiffs.

Eight of them were fired on Feb. 25, the same day that Patel revealed his phone toll records and those of White House chief of staff Susie Wiles had been subpoenaed by the FBI in connection with former special counsel Jack Smith’s investigations into Trump. The ninth plaintiff was fired the following day.

Patel later made statements before Congress that the plaintiffs say conflict with how their terminations unfolded. The FBI chief claimed they were fired after internal investigations for “unethical” or “inappropriate” conduct, which the plaintiffs deny.

While the plaintiffs were primarily concerned about losing their jobs, they argued that their abrupt firings affected national security.

“Prior to their firings, Plaintiffs were involved in ongoing and sensitive counterintelligence and counterterrorism investigations in connection with threats emanating from countries across the globe,” the 70-page lawsuit states. “As a result of their unlawful and hasty firings, Plaintiffs’ investigations were not properly transferred to other FBI Special Agents or Analysts. The impact of these heedless actions on America’s national security is immeasurable.”

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The plaintiffs are demanding that the Washington, D.C., federal court reinstate them to their prior positions, award back pay and other damages, and declare that the defendants’ actions violated the First and Fifth amendments.

This is the latest in a series of lawsuits filed by former FBI employees who claim the administration illegally fired them. One of those suits was brought by ex-agents who worked on the federal investigation into Trump’s alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election.