Former FBI officials fired by Patel and Bondi sue claiming retaliation

Three former FBI officials sued Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI director Kash Patel Wednesday, claiming they were fired on orders from the White House and Justice Department as retaliation for their work.The big picture: The lawsuit alleges that Patel told Brian Driscoll, the former acting FBI director who was later forced out, that there was nothing that could be done to stop the firings because "the FBI tried to put the President in jail and he hasn't forgotten it." Under President Trump, who considers himself a victim a victim of the so-called "Deep State," America's top national security agencies have undergone a mistrust-driven transformation as leaders seek to ferret leakers and ensure loyalty.Driscoll was joined in the suit, filed in D.C. federal court, by Steven Jensen, whom Patel named assistant director in charge of the Washington Field Office, and Spencer Evans, the former special agent in charge of the Las Vegas field office.Driving the news: The suit alleges that Patel said that his superiors — understood by Driscoll to be the DOJ and White House — had directed him to fire those who worked on a criminal investigation against Trump.Patel said in a conversation with Driscoll that he had to remove employees because "his ability to keep his own job depended on the removal of the agents who worked on cases involving the President," the lawsuit alleges."Patel not only acted unlawfully but deliberately chose to prioritize politicizing the FBI over protecting the American people," it reads.Flashback: In a written response provided for a January Senate questionnaire, Patel repeatedly emphasized that "[p]ersonnel decisions should be based on performance and adherence to the law."Democrats raised alarms during his confirmation process over a book Patel wrote in 2023 that features a list of "deep state" officials to target, but he vowed there would be no politicization of the FBI. Catch up quick: Shortly after the start of Trump's second term, the Justice Department ordered a review of any FBI agent involved in cases relating to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot or Trump's handling of classified documents.The FBI and DOJ did not immediately respond to Axios' requests for comment.Go deeper: Patel and Bongino's choppy transition from roasting the FBI to running it

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