FBI agents and analysts who were fired for working on Trump classified files probe sue to get their jobs back

Nine FBI employees, including analysts and intelligence specialists, are suing to regain their positions after being fired by FBI Director Kash Patel in February. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Washington, asserts that their terminations were politically motivated acts of retribution against those who had worked on investigations related to President Donald Trump and his efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

The agents deny the allegations, emphasizing their extensive and apolitical service in the FBI, which included responding to events such as the Boston Marathon bombing and the 2024 assassination attempt on Trump in Pennsylvania. They maintain that their firings represent an "immeasurable loss" to America's national security. The lawsuit calls for their reinstatement, back pay, and a declaration that the firings were unlawful.

The plaintiffs also highlight Patel's past statements criticizing the FBI's Mar-a-Lago investigation and his accusations that investigators were "corrupt government gangsters." They argue that the terminations were not based on any legitimate cause or disciplinary process and that the agents were not given proper notice or an opportunity to appeal.