The Justice Department agreed to temporarily withhold the release of FBI personnel names involved in investigations related to the Capitol riot, following two lawsuits filed by agents seeking to prevent the disclosure. The agreement requires at least two days' notice before releasing information to the public, but not to other government agencies. The lawsuits allege the DOJ is acting under an unlawful directive from former President Trump to purge agents who worked on the January 6 investigation and the classified documents probe.
The Justice Department agreed Friday to temporarily withhold the release of FBI personnel names involved in investigations related to the Capitol riot. This decision follows two separate lawsuits filed by FBI agents seeking to prevent the department from disclosing their identities and related information.
One class-action lawsuit, brought by nine anonymous FBI employees, alleges the DOJ is carrying out an 'unlawful and retaliatory' directive from former President Donald Trump to purge the bureau of agents who worked on the January 6 investigation and the classified documents probe into Trump. A second lawsuit, filed on behalf of the FBI Agents Association and seven anonymous FBI employees, accuses the DOJ of attempting to carry out 'the mass, unlawful termination of Bureau employees' involved in the Capitol riot investigation. Mark Zaid, a national security lawyer representing the plaintiffs in the second suit, celebrated Friday's agreement as a 'significant victory in protecting @FBI employees!' Under the terms of the consent agreement, the DOJ must provide at least two days' notice to the plaintiffs before publicly releasing any information about FBI personnel involved in investigating crimes related to the January 6, 2021 insurrection. Notably, however, the agreement does not impose a similar time constraint on sharing agents' identities with other government agencies or the White House. The lawsuits were filed following the DOJ's distribution of a questionnaire to thousands of agents, inquiring about their involvement in investigations related to the Capitol riot and Trump's handling of classified documents. In response, the FBI provided the DOJ with the names of approximately 5,000 personnel. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who was sworn in on Wednesday, has called for 'zealous advocacy' of the Trump administration's agenda. Since her appointment, Bondi has created a 'Weaponization Working Group' within the department to review federal criminal cases brought against Trump by special counsel Jack Smith and ordered a pause on federal funding for sanctuary cities. She also disbanded a government task force targeting Russian oligarchs amid the Ukraine war to redirect resources towards combating drug cartels.Legal experts predict these lawsuits are just the beginning of a larger battle. Preet Bharara, former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, stated on his podcast, 'These are interesting lawsuits. I think they are more a harbinger of what's to come. They were shot across the bow, making it clear that if and when employment actions are taken against some of these agents, or perhaps all of these agents, there is going to be a battle in the courtroom or in many courtrooms around the country.' Bondi, in a memo accompanying one of her directives this week, warned that any attorney who declines to advance the administration's agenda will face disciplinary action, potentially leading to termination
CAPITOL RIOT FBI JUSTICE DEPARTMENT DONALD TRUMP LAWSUITS PAM BONDI ATTORNEY GENERAL
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