Three Decorated FBI Officials Accuse FBI, DOJ And Trump Administration Of Illegal, Politically Motivated Firings

FBI Director Kash Patel admitted his superiors directed him to fire anyone who had worked on a criminal investigation of the President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 10, 2025
Contacts: [email protected]
[email protected]

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Three decorated former FBI officials today alleged that their abrupt terminations in August 2025 were unconstitutional, retaliatory and part of a broader pattern of vengeance-based, political retribution within the Bureau.

Former FBI leaders Brian J. Driscoll, Steven J. Jensen and Spencer L. Evans, who combined have more than 60 years of law enforcement service, filed a lawsuit today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia that names FBI Director Kash Patel and the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Department of Justice (DOJ); and the Executive Office of the President as defendants.

Among several specific examples of politically-motivated action, the Complaint details:

• FBI Director Kash Patel admitted that his superiors at DOJ and White House instructed him to fire anyone who they identified had worked on a criminal investigation involving President Trump, saying “the FBI tried to put the President in jail and he hasn’t forgotten it.”
• Emil Bove, then the Acting Deputy Attorney General, demanded a list of all FBI personnel associated with January 6 investigations, asserting that terminations would be based purely on a subjective assessment of loyalty to President Trump’s agenda. When Driscoll challenged this as unlawful, Bove said the DOJ was receiving pressure from White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller to see similar firings at the FBI as had occurred at DOJ.
• Dan Bongino, Deputy Director of the FBI, pressured Assistant Director in Charge Steven Jensen to fire Special Agent Walter Giardina, a decorated FBI veteran, based on nothing more than unfounded allegations that were “just out there” about Giardina. Jensen refused, warning Bongino that such an unlawful firing would violate FBI policy and veteran protections.

“The men and women of the FBI make countless sacrifices to accomplish the Bureau’s mission: protecting the American people and upholding the Constitution,” said Brian Driscoll, the former Acting Director of the FBI. “That’s why it is necessary to detail the politically-motivated actions that led to our firings. The American people deserve an FBI made up of professionals who can serve righteously and confidently, with no fear of inappropriately applied pressure or wrongful termination.”

“Though my time as an FBI agent has concluded, the core principles of Fidelity, Bravery and Integrity remain foundational to my character. I have joined this litigation to champion the values of truth and justice for those who continue to serve in the FBI,” said Steven Jensen, who served as the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office. “Through this lawsuit, we aim to re-establish the highest standards of justice and ensure that every American, particularly those entrusted with immense authority of federal law enforcement, respects and obeys the law.”

“The public’s confidence in the FBI hinges on the commitment of every FBI employee, from the newest Special Agent to the Director, to relentlessly adhere to the rule of law without fear or favor,” said Spencer Evans, who served in the FBI for over 20 years and was the Special Agent in Charge in Las Vegas. “Americans should demand FBI leaders who make decisions based solely on the facts of an investigation and never on the desired outcome of one.”

According to the complaint, the three men were dismissed by Patel in one-page letters citing “authority as FBI Director” and “Article II of the Constitution.” Patel previously admitted his superiors directed him to fire anyone who they identified had worked on a criminal investigation against the President, and later publicly confirmed in an August 20 interview that his actions were tied to alleged “weaponization” within the FBI. The firings were conducted without any due process required for senior FBI officials.

“These agents are distinguished public servants, who were dismissed because they prioritized duty over politics,” said attorneys on the new suit, Margaret Donovan and Chris Mattei of Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder; Abbe David Lowell of Lowell & Associates; and Mark S. Zaid of Mark S. Zaid, P.C.; and Heidi R. Burakiewicz of Burakiewicz & DePriest. “This lawsuit is not just about their rights as individuals. It is about protecting the institutional integrity of the FBI and ensuring that law enforcement can protect the American people without being targeted for partisan retribution. Upholding the Constitution and the FBI’s independence is essential to our national security and democratic principles.”

The new filing asserts these firings violated the former officials’ First Amendment rights, Fifth Amendment due process protections, and statutory safeguards afforded to FBI Senior Executive Service members.

This action comes against the backdrop of intensifying concerns that the FBI is being gutted by a politically motivated purge of career, nonpartisan law enforcement officials, which has placed the nation at grave risk. Earlier in 2025, Justice Department officials ordered the Bureau to compile lists of personnel who worked on the January 6 investigation, potentially encompassing more than 5,000 employees or roughly 13 percent of the FBI workforce. This demand triggered numerous lawsuits from agents seeking to protect their identities and fueled warnings of mass retaliatory firings and threats from individuals who were previously pardoned for Capitol riot offenses. The complaint alleges that these requests were tied to a Trump Administration Executive Order concerning “weaponization,” raising alarms that political loyalty, not lawful process, was driving personnel decisions.

Driscoll, Jensen, and Evans were among the highest-ranking FBI officials to resist political directives. Driscoll, a former Acting FBI Director, was the head of the Bureau’s Critical Incident Response Group. Jensen, who oversaw the FBI’s Washington Field Office, played a central role in the January 6 investigations. Evans, the Special Agent who was in charge of the Las Vegas Office, was transitioning to lead the Huntsville Field Office and brought decades of frontline counterterrorism, narcotics, and tactical experience before his dismissal. None of the agents were accused of professional misconduct, and all were removed after providing decades of exemplary service.

Their statements are included in full below.

The plaintiffs are represented by Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder; Lowell & Associates; Mark S. Zaid P.C.; and Burakiewicz & DePriest.

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About Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder

Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder, based in Connecticut, is a nationally recognized law firm that has achieved landmark legal victories on behalf of victims of gun violence, civil rights violations, medical malpractice, and governmental abuse. The firm is committed to holding powerful institutions accountable and securing justice for individuals and communities harmed by negligence and injustice.

About Lowell & Associates PLLC

Lowell & Associates provides strategic, principled legal representation across civil, criminal, compliance, congressional, and regulatory matters. The firm brings a deep understanding of both the law and the broader context in which our clients operate, serving individuals, businesses, and institutions that value experienced counsel and effective advocacy in today’s legal environment.

About Mark Zaid P.C.

Mark Zaid is the founding partner of Mark S. Zaid PC. He often represents former/current federal employees, intelligence and military officers, whistleblowers, and others who have grievances or have been wronged by agencies of the United States Government or foreign governments.

About Burakiewicz & DePriest

Burakiewicz & DePriest, PLLC is a boutique law firm focusing on plaintiff-side labor and employment litigation on behalf of unions and employees. We have helped thousands of workers and advanced the laws protecting employee and civil rights. As one judge remarked, our results are “impressive by any standard.”

Full Statements

Brian Driscoll

“I believe in the FBI. I believe in the mission, to protect the American people and uphold the Constitution. I believe in, and care deeply for, the men and women of the FBI who toil silently and selflessly, and make untold sacrifices to accomplish that mission. I also believe in the need for the FBI to always evolve and improve, guided by proven processes and hard-earned experience. I count myself fortunate to have served alongside the men and women of the FBI, and to have led them to the best of my ability. It is with the same sense of obligation I felt to the FBI and the American people when I served, that I feel it necessary to share the facts of what happened, through personal experience, in my best effort to ensure that those who continue to serve are afforded the due process that I was not before my summary dismissal. I am neither a political, nor a litigious person. This is not a selfish endeavor. For me, it’s just about doing what I think is right. That said, I hope this effort results in protecting others who did no harm and committed no misconduct from wrongful consequences. The American people deserve an FBI made up of professionals who can serve righteously and confidently, with no fear of inappropriately applied pressure or wrongful termination.”

Spencer Evans

“The public’s confidence in the FBI hinges on the commitment of every FBI employee, from the newest Special Agent to the Director, to relentlessly adhere to the rule of law without fear or favor. Americans should demand FBI leaders who make decisions based solely on the facts of an investigation and never on the desired outcome of one.”

Steven Jensen

“Though my time as an FBI agent has concluded, the core principles of Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity remain foundational to my character. Fidelity to the rule of law and the tireless pursuit of justice. I stand firm in the conviction that justice is blind, and that every individual is entitled to dignity and protection under the law. Integrity is a non-negotiable standard that guides every decision and action. Honor is a measure of our character and is woven into every choice and sacrifice. Bravery is not found in public ceremony or accolades. True bravery is the unwavering commitment to duty over convenience and courage over fear. It is embodied in those who serve this country through the principle of service above self.

I have joined this litigation to champion the values of truth and justice for those who continue to serve in the FBI. Through this lawsuit, we aim to re-establish the highest standards of justice and ensure that every American, particularly those entrusted with the immense authority of federal law enforcement, respects and obeys the law.”