Ex-FBI chief in Chicago sues DoJ, claiming he was pressured to investigate Trump’s foes
Former FBI special agent in charge Douglas DePodesta has filed a federal lawsuit against the Department of Justice, alleging he was pressured to investigate political opponents and made a scapegoat after a federal case against anti-ICE protesters collapsed.
DePodesta served as FBI special agent in charge from 2024 until July 2026 when he resigned. His lawsuit names current FBI director Kash Patel, Attorney General Todd Blanche, and US attorney Andrew Boutros as defendants. The suit alleges the DoJ engaged in misconduct and malfeasance in pursuing unjust prosecutions, with DePodesta being wrongly blamed for the DoJ's missteps and unlawfully forced out of his position.
Political Pressure
During Operation Midway Blitz, ICE's intense crackdown on Chicago last year, Boutros repeatedly pressured DePodesta to launch politically motivated investigations. On one occasion, Boutros became openly hostile when the FBI refused to write an affidavit claiming a protester had assaulted an officer, despite video evidence showing only incidental touching.
The lawsuit alleges Boutros sent emails demanding DePodesta open FBI investigations into individuals with political views opposing the Trump administration. These claims contradict Boutros's public statements that the charges weren't politically motivated and that he hadn't communicated with DoJ headquarters about the case.
Broadview Six Collapse
The suit centers on the collapse of the DoJ's criminal case against six activists known as the Broadview Six who protested against an ICE facility in Chicago in September 2025. They were charged with conspiracy to impede an ICE officer, but the case fell apart after a series of prosecutorial missteps.
A grand jury initially rejected the charges, an extremely rare outcome. Even after jurors expressed skepticism, prosecutors continued pursuing an indictment with Boutros appearing in court to urge charges. DePodesta claims he attended meetings where Boutros discussed the case with DoJ officials including Patel and Blanche.
The American people need to know what is happening within their government … I will not let fear silence me.
Scapegoat Campaign
After the case collapsed, Boutros allegedly began a campaign to blame DePodesta for the unraveling of the case, despite knowing the dismissal resulted from improprieties by those under Boutros's supervision. Boutros falsely accused DePodesta of conspiring with his sister-in-law, Nancy DePodesta, a defense lawyer who represented one of the Broadview Six defendants.
DePodesta informed his superiors he hadn't discussed the case with his sister-in-law, and senior FBI officials supported him, but were ultimately pressured to force DePodesta out. When he resigned in July, the FBI posted on X.com: Anyone who is not on board with THIS FBI under the leadership of President Trump … is free to leave. DePodesta's suit calls this a false and defamatory explanation of his removal. The lawsuit seeks damages for defamation and violations of due process and free speech rights.
Boutros's lawsuit notes only around 6% of cases brought by him against anti-ICE protesters during Operation Midway Blitz resulted in a finding of guilt – an unprecedented failure rate for his office. Trump-appointed DoJ leaders across the US have faced scrutiny for pursuing weak cases that align with the president's agenda and ultimately end in failure.
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