An agreement was reached on Friday between FBI employees and the Justice Department regarding the protection of sensitive information related to employees who worked on January 6 cases, including the one against Donald Trump. The court order prohibits the DOJ from releasing a list of FBI employees publicly, to the White House, or to any other government agency without providing two days' notice.
The decision comes after concerns were raised about safeguarding the information of over 5,000 FBI employees, gathered through a survey and shared with Justice Department leadership, to prevent any potential leaks to the public. Several FBI employees, supported by the agency's union, expressed fears for their safety if their identities were made public. They specifically worried about the list being shared with the White House or other government entities, which could lead to their names becoming public.
The consent order, signed by District Judge Jia M. Cobb, was finalized following the FBI's submission of employees' names to the Justice Department through a classified system to prevent public identification. The order explicitly states that the government is prohibited from disseminating the list to the public, directly or indirectly, until the Court rules on anticipated motions for a preliminary injunction.
According to the consent order, the government may choose to terminate the restriction by providing two business days' notice to the parties and the Court. Initially hesitant to issue a temporary restraining order, Judge Cobb suggested considering allowing the Justice Department to share the list with a two-day notice, as employees were identified on the survey solely through an employee ID number.
Following a series of hearings, FBI leadership complied with the Justice Department's request to provide the names. Both in internal memos and court proceedings, the Justice Department reiterated its commitment to not releasing the list publicly. Acting FBI Director Brian Driscoll emphasized concerns for the safety of personnel and their families should the lists be made public.
