Three former senior officials of the Federal Bureau of Investigation have sued FBI Director Kash Patel in Washington, D.C., alleging that they were unlawfully removed from office on the instructions of former President Donald Trump.
The plaintiffs are Brian Driscoll, who briefly served as acting FBI director; Steve Jensen, former assistant director of the Washington Field Office; and Spencer Evans, former head of the Las Vegas Field Office.
They said their dismissals formed part of a political purge aimed at punishing officials involved in investigations connected to Trump.
Court filings claim Patel admitted to Driscoll that the sackings were “likely illegal” but said he had to comply, adding, “the FBI tried to put the president in jail and he hasn’t forgotten it.”
The lawsuit also accuses Patel of defaming the officials during a Fox News interview where he portrayed them as politically motivated.
The federal lawsuit, filed on Wednesday, seeks reinstatement of the agents, back pay and a declaration that their termination was unlawful.
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They argue that the action undermined the bureau’s independence and was intended to retaliate against their involvement in the January 6 Capitol riot investigation and the classified documents probe.
Patel, a longtime Trump ally, was confirmed as FBI director earlier this year.
His role in the dismissals has drawn scrutiny, with Senator Dick Durbin urging the Justice Department’s Inspector General to investigate reports that Patel orchestrated the firings before formally assuming office.
Whistleblower accounts allege he coordinated the removals with former White House adviser Stephen Miller and Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove.
The case has intensified concerns about political interference in the FBI, raising further questions about the bureau’s autonomy and the vulnerability of career officials to partisan pressure.