WASHINGTON – In a significant turn of events, FBI agents involved in investigations concerning former President Donald Trump have initiated legal action in response to the Justice Department’s attempts to compile a list of agents linked to those inquiries. They express concerns that this could lead to widespread firings within the bureau.
On Tuesday, two lawsuits were filed in a federal court in Washington by anonymous agents seeking to halt the collection and potential sharing of names of those involved in investigations related to the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot and Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. The legal actions reflect a growing tension following revelations that the Justice Department requested the names, titles, and office locations of all personnel who participated in the January 6 probe for an assessment regarding any necessary personnel actions.
As part of this process, the Justice Department sought detailed information from the FBI, including an extensive survey sent to thousands of agents about their roles in these investigations over the weekend. This has heightened fears among agents that this could lead to adverse employment consequences or even termination.
In response to the Justice Department’s demands, the FBI provided information about approximately 5,000 employees, but opted to only use unique identification codes for those agents rather than revealing their names, as reported by an anonymous insider familiar with the developments.
The level of scrutiny directed toward career agents is particularly unusual, given that frontline FBI personnel do not have a say in the cases assigned to them and historically do not face disciplinary actions for involvement in politically charged investigations. Notably, there has been no substantiated evidence of misconduct by FBI investigators or lawyers related to these cases.
Former President Trump has expressed long-standing frustration with the FBI and the Justice Department, particularly relating to investigations during and after his presidency, including inquiries into possible collusion with Russia during his 2016 campaign and his subsequent handling of sensitive documents.
The anonymous agents, referred to in the lawsuits as “John and Jane Does,” indicate that they were instructed to either complete the surveys regarding their investigation involvement or have their supervisors fill them out, with the assurance that their submissions would be relayed to higher management. They assert that the purpose of compiling such lists is rooted in retaliation, suggesting a potential risk of being targeted for termination.
The complaint highlights concerns that any released list of agents could be exploited by Trump supporters, placing the agents and their families at risk of retribution. The lawsuit cites previous statements from Trump, wherein he hinted at seeking “vengeance” on those he perceives as politically opposed to him, particularly regarding actions taken during the January 6 events.
Furthermore, the agents contend that the process of compiling these lists is inherently retaliatory, designed to intimidate and dissuade FBI staff from reporting any future misconduct associated with Trump or those aligned with him. The lawsuit references the recent dismissal of several prosecutors by the Justice Department, suggesting a pattern of retribution that supports their claims.
Additionally, a separate lawsuit from another group of agents emphasizes that public disclosure of their identities could expose them to harassment and threats, presenting evidence of social media calls for violence against individuals involved in the January 6 investigations.
The legal actions have raised alarms among legal representatives for the agents, with one attorney asserting that the potential release of these names signifies an unlawful purge motivated by political vindictiveness and could incite significant harassment against the agents and their families.
A spokesperson for the Justice Department chose not to comment on the ongoing litigation.
