Twelve former FBI agents have filed a lawsuit claiming they were unlawfully terminated for taking a knee during a racial justice protest in Washington DC in June 2020. The action comes nearly five years after the incident, which occurred in the wake of the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer, an event that sparked nationwide and international protests against racial injustice.

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Background: The 2020 Protest in Washington DC

On 4 June 2020, the twelve agents—nine women and three men—were deployed to manage a tense protest situation in the US capital. Amid a volatile and potentially violent environment, the agents made a tactical decision to kneel, adopting a gesture commonly used by protesters to signal solidarity and reduce tensions between law enforcement and the community.

In their lawsuit, the agents argued that kneeling defused a dangerous situation and helped avoid escalation, highlighting that the action was both deliberate and reviewed at the time by the FBI and the Department of Justice.

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Allegations Against FBI Leadership

The plaintiffs claim their termination was politically motivated, alleging that FBI Director Kash Patel, who was in office during their dismissal, ordered their sacking. The letters they received accused them of “a lack of impartiality” in their duties, though the agents say this claim was tied to their perceived lack of support for then-President Donald Trump.

“We were targeted because our choice of tactics on that day led to a perceived lack of affiliation with President Trump,” the agents said in their legal filing.

The FBI has declined to comment on the lawsuit. Patel has previously denied that personnel actions at the agency were politically motivated, despite ongoing criticism regarding alleged crackdowns on staff perceived as disloyal to Trump.

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Legal Claims and Desired Outcomes

The ex-agents are seeking:

• Reinstatement to their former positions
• Back pay for lost wages
• Recognition that their actions were lawful and tactical, not a breach of agency rules

The lawsuit emphasizes that their dismissal came more than five years after the protest, raising concerns about the timing and motivations behind the terminations.

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Wider Context: Political Pressure in the FBI

This lawsuit follows a broader pattern of politically charged allegations within the FBI during Patel’s tenure. Former acting director Brian Driscoll and other agents have filed separate lawsuits claiming they were terminated in acts of political retribution.

The White House, meanwhile, has defended Patel, describing him as “a critical member of the president’s team” and asserting that he is working to restore integrity to the FBI.

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Conclusion

The case highlights ongoing tensions within the FBI over political influence, loyalty, and internal discipline. It also raises broader questions about the agency’s handling of law enforcement personnel during periods of national unrest and the rights of agents to exercise judgment-based, de-escalatory tactics during protests.

As the lawsuit moves forward in the District of Columbia, it could have significant implications for FBI personnel policy, whistleblower protections, and how political considerations intersect with federal law enforcement operations.