FBI agents involved in investigations related to President Donald Trump have filed lawsuits against the Justice Department over concerns that a list of employees involved in those inquiries could lead to mass firings. The lawsuits, filed in federal court in Washington, demand an immediate halt to the collection and potential dissemination of names of investigators who participated in probes of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
The suits come after revelations that the Justice Department requested the names, offices, and titles of all employees involved in Jan. 6 investigations to evaluate potential personnel actions. Thousands of FBI employees were asked to fill out detailed questionnaires about their involvement in these probes, raising fears of termination.
The FBI provided personnel details of several thousand employees to the Justice Department but identified them only through unique codes, not by name. The scrutiny of career agents is unusual as rank-and-file FBI agents typically do not face discipline for politically sensitive cases without evidence of misconduct.
The lawsuits, filed on behalf of anonymous agents referred to as 'John and Jane Does,' allege that compiling lists of agents involved in investigations upsetting Trump is retaliatory and intended to intimidate personnel. The agents fear retribution from Trump allies if the list is made public.
One group of agents argues that releasing their names publicly could expose them to threats and harassment, citing a social media post calling for the arrest of an agent who testified in a Jan. 6 case. The lawsuits seek to prevent the Justice Department from disclosing the names on the list.
The FBI Agents Association, which also sued, expressed concerns about the potential impact on agents' safety and job security. The lawsuits highlight the escalating tensions between the FBI and the Justice Department over investigations involving Trump and the Capitol riot.
