Sacked FBI agents sue ex-employer, saying they were punished for taking the knee

Fired FBI Agents Sue Ex-Employer, Claiming They Were Punished for Taking a Knee During Protests

Twelve former FBI agents who were fired after taking a knee during a racial justice protest in Washington D.C. five years ago have filed a lawsuit against their ex-employer, alleging that they were unlawfully terminated due to their actions.

The plaintiffs claim that their decision to kneel - a gesture used by protesters - helped deescalate a tense situation and avoid triggering violence. They argue that they were fired on the orders of FBI Director Kash Patel, who is named as a defendant in the lawsuit.

According to the agents, their termination letters accused them of "a lack of impartiality" in their duties. However, they claim that their actions were reviewed at the time by both the FBI and the Department of Justice, which the agency is a part of.

The agents believe that they were targeted because their choice of tactics on that day led to a perceived lack of affiliation with President Donald Trump, who was in office during the protests. The lawsuit alleges that Patel has been accused of a wider crackdown on personnel perceived to be disloyal to his ally.

The civil case comes after former FBI acting director Brian Driscoll and others filed a lawsuit of their own, alleging that they too had been terminated in an act of political retribution.

In their complaint, the ex-agents are seeking reinstatement in their positions and back pay. The lawsuit highlights the tension between government agencies and employees who may express dissenting views or take actions perceived as critical to the administration.

I mean come on guys, kneel down during a protest? Are you trying to get fired? It's a gesture that's become so cliché it's not even funny anymore. I don't think it's a big deal if some agents took a knee and thought they were doing the right thing. You'd think they'd be more worried about actually stopping crimes than getting fired for a political statement.

And what's with all these lawsuits? Can't we just have a civil discussion without everyone needing to sue each other? It feels like some people are more concerned with being "right" than with doing their job. I mean, if you're not comfortable taking a knee during a protest, that's your prerogative. But don't try to take down someone else for it.

I think the real question here is what would have happened if these agents had just kept their heads down and done their jobs? Would they still be there? Maybe this whole thing was just a massive overreaction.

I'm kinda surprised they're suing the FBI now, I mean it's been 5 years since that protest... maybe they should've just kept quiet about it back then . Either way, I don't get why they're making a big deal about taking a knee during a protest, it seems pretty harmless to me . And what's with the FBI Director being named as a defendant in this whole thing? Shouldn't he be doing his job and not getting involved in all this drama?

I feel so bad for these agents , they were just trying to peacefully protest and show solidarity with a good cause... taking a knee doesn't even mean you're going against the law , it's like, you know when you're sitting on your couch and you just kinda bend your knees... it's not even that deep . Anyway, I think this is gonna be a huge test for the FBI and its leadership . If they're firing agents because they don't agree with the policies or the president's views... what's next? Are we gonna start seeing agents getting fired for disagreeing on sports teams too ?

I gotta say, this whole thing is super messed up. Like, can't you just take a knee during a protest without getting fired? It's all about being respectful and showing solidarity with others. I'm not surprised they're suing for reinstatement - it's only fair that they get their jobs back.

I mean, what's next? Are we gonna see people fired for voting for the wrong candidate or something? The whole thing just stinks of politics and persecution. It's like, as long as you're doing your job, shouldn't you be able to express yourself without fear of reprisal?

The fact that they had their actions reviewed by both the FBI and DOJ before getting fired makes it even more ridiculous. If anything, that should've been a good thing! It just goes to show that sometimes, politics gets in the way of fairness and justice.

Anyway, I hope these ex-agents get the justice they deserve - and we need to make sure this kind of thing never happens again!

I THINK IT'S CRAZY THAT THESE AGENTS WERE FIRED FOR DOING SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS TAKING A KNEE DURING A PROTEST IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A PEACEFUL ACT OF RESPECT AND SOLIDARITY, NOT SOME KIND OF TREASON AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT!!!

I MEAN, COME ON FOLKS, CAN'T WE JUST HAVE A DISCUSSION WITHOUT FEARS OF BEING FIRED FOR EXPRESSING OUR OPINIONS? IT'S CALLED FREE SPEECH, RIGHT?

I'm so concerned about this whole situation... It's crazy that these agents were fired for taking a knee during a protest - it's like, what even is wrong with expressing solidarity? I mean, they weren't being confrontational or violent, just showing support for a cause. And now they're suing the FBI for allegedly targeting them because of their views? It's so frustrating when politics gets in the way of doing the job right.

I also feel bad for these agents, who were clearly trying to do what was right - help deescalate a tense situation. They didn't deserve to be punished like this. It just highlights how important it is for government agencies to have a culture of respect and understanding, rather than fear and retaliation. Can't we just agree on differing opinions without losing our jobs?

just when you think the FBI is above politics... these agents took a stand for what they believed in, tried to de-escalate a situation, and got canned it's not about being disloyal to anyone, it's about doing what's right if they're seeking justice, I'm with them

It's crazy how much power we give our leaders . These 12 FBI agents were just trying to do what they thought was right, standing up for justice and equality during a tense situation. They weren't even thinking about their careers at that moment . But then, someone in a higher position comes along and decides to punish them for it? That's like punishing kids for asking questions in class . It makes you wonder how far down the chain of command someone has to go before they start getting fired for just being themselves . I think this whole situation says something about us as a society – we need more courage and conviction, not fear and silence .

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this one . It's outrageous that these agents were fired for simply taking a knee during a protest, you know, to show solidarity? It's like they were penalized for exercising their right to free speech and peaceful assembly. I mean, what's next? Are we gonna see more people being terminated just because they express opinions that don't align with the administration? It's all about how those in power choose to respond to dissenting views, and it's really disturbing. The fact that they were reviewed by both the FBI and DOJ beforehand only adds to my frustration – it's clear that their actions were scrutinized based on who was behind them, not what they actually did. Anyway, I think these agents are gonna win this lawsuit big time

I'm kinda shocked by this news. Like, shouldn't we value individual perspectives & freedom of expression in a workplace? It's crazy that these agents were fired just because they disagreed with the direction of their agency... on something as non-political as racial justice protests . They're not asking for special treatment or anything, just to be treated fairly if they chose to show solidarity with others who disagreed with Trump at the time (which is super reasonable). It's like, what even happened here?

OMG just saw that 12 former FBI agents are suing the agency for firing them after they took a knee during protests! Like, what even is going on? They're saying it actually helped deescalate the situation and avoid violence, but I guess that's not enough to save their jobs, right? It's like, can't we just have some peaceful protesting around here without getting fired for it? And I'm low-key impressed by these agents for speaking out against what they're claiming is political retribution. Let's hope they get justice and get their jobs back!

I'm not buying into this "taking a knee" narrative . These former FBI agents got fired for doing something that was already widely accepted by society, and now they're claiming it's a case of political retribution? Come on... I mean, if you were going to take them down, why single out people who did the same thing as everyone else during that protest? It's just another example of how hard it is for government officials to handle criticism without throwing their weight around . And what's with this "lack of impartiality" excuse? If they were doing their job, they wouldn't be in a situation where taking a knee would even become an issue in the first place . It just feels like another case of overreach to me...

Man, this is a tough one to swallow . I mean, can you imagine being fired for just standing up (literally) for what you believe in? It's like, isn't that what we're supposed to be doing in the first place? Protecting our country and its people, not just following orders from above .

These former FBI agents took a stand for something bigger than themselves - equality, justice, and humanity . And now they're being sued by their ex-employer because they didn't toe the party line? It's just mind-boggling, you know?

This whole thing makes me think about the importance of speaking truth to power . If we're not willing to take a knee (or stand up) for what we believe in, then who will? The lawsuit might seem like an obvious response, but it's actually kinda courageous - proving that you won't be silenced just because you've done something unpopular.

We gotta keep pushing forward, even when the road gets rough . We can't let fear or politics dictate our actions; we gotta stand for what's right, no matter what .

OMG, like, come on guys! These 12 fired FBI agents are totally right, but I know some ppl might think they're overreacting. Taking a knee is such a minor gesture and it doesn't even matter who you kneel to, right? The real question is why did the FBI Director decide to fire them? Was it really because they didn't agree with Trump's views or was it just a big ol' power play by Patel?

I mean, think about it, if these agents were so bad at their jobs just because they took a knee, wouldn't that be a huge issue for the whole agency? I don't get why they're trying to make this all about being "loyal" or not. It's like, can't we just have an open and honest discussion without getting all worked up?

Anyway, I gotta side with these fired agents - if you take a knee during a protest and it doesn't even cause any harm, then what's the big deal? And btw, who does Kash Patel think he is, anyway?