Nine Fired FBI Staff Sue Over Trump Probe

Nine former FBI agents, analysts and operations specialists filed a 70-page lawsuit on Oct. 15, 2026, in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against FBI Director Kash Patel, Attorney General Todd Blanche and federal agencies. They seek reinstatement and back pay after termination letters dated Feb. 25-26, 2026. Patel signed the letters invoking Article II and stating they had "exercised poor judgment and a lack of impartiality in carrying out duties, leading to the political weaponization of the government." The nine had worked the investigation known internally as Plasmic Echo. The complaint says they "were unlawfully terminated not for any cause or any legitimate reason, but only to satisfy the president's personal vendetta," with no FBI disciplinary process, notice, hearing or appeal, and calls the Article II rationale a pretext. It quotes Blanche saying the administration had "cleaned house" and that there "isn't a single man or woman with a gun, federal agent, still in that organization that had anything to do with the prosecution of President Trump." A DOJ spokesperson said the department "is committed to treating employees fairly and complying with the law" and will defend the president's authority, adding he "is not required to delineate cause for federal employees who are removed." The suit recounts Ray's June 3, 2022 Mar-a-Lago visit and Bacon's firing less than 48 hours after approving Starr's file access. The case is pending.