FBI Agents Association Files Temporary Restraining Order to Block Trump Administration from Releasing Names of Special Agents Targeted for Work on January 6 Investigations
The Federal Bureau of Investigation Agents Association (FBIAA), alongside several anonymous FBI Agents and employees, today filed a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the Department of Justice (DOJ) to prevent the mass public release of names of Agents and FBI employees who worked on cases related to the criminal events that occurred on January 6, 2021.
The TRO, filed in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, asserts that there is clear evidence the Justice Department intends to publicly disclose the names of employees it plans to demote, transfer, or terminate—apparently as a form of retaliation and stigmatization. The TRO argues that such disclosure would violate both statutory and constitutional law.
“FBI Special Agents who risk their lives protecting the country from criminals and terrorists are now being placed on lists and having their careers jeopardized simply for doing their jobs,” said FBIAA President Natalie Bara. “Exposing the names of FBI Agents and employees on these lists would put the safety of these individuals and their families at risk. Further, this reckless action would create a chilling effect within the law enforcement community and weaken the Bureau’s ability to combat criminal and national security threats.”
“The DOJ’s plan to release the names of FBI agents who investigated January 6th is an appalling attack on non-partisan public servants who have dedicated their lives to protecting our communities and our nation. It is clear that the threatened disclosure is a prelude to an unlawful purge of the FBI driven solely by the Trump Administration’s vengeful and political motivations,”said attorney for the FBI agents Chris Mattei of Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder. “Releasing the names of these agents would ignite a firestorm of harassment towards them and their families and it must be stopped immediately.”
In recent weeks, as part of their Senate nomination hearings, Attorney General-nominee Pam Bondi and FBI Director-nominee Kash Patel both committed that FBI Agents would be afforded due process and protected from retaliation based on their case assignments. Director-nominee Patel further reiterated this commitment in a meeting with the FBI Agents Association, where he emphasized that Agents would not face retribution for carrying out their lawful duties. The public exposure of Agent and employee names would directly contradict these commitments.
The Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA) stated, “Releasing the names of the FBI Agents would create a significant harm to the Agents and their families. We oppose releasing the names of those Agents who were fulfilling their duties as federal law enforcement officers.”
Today’s legal filing urges the Court to intervene to prevent the public release of Agents’ identities to uphold the principles of fairness, protect those who serve in good faith, and ensure that FBI Agents can perform their vital mission of safeguarding the American people.
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About The FBI Agents Association
The FBI Agents Association (FBIAA) is a professional association dedicated to providing support and advocacy to active and former Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Membership includes more than 14,000 active and former Special Agents of the FBI. For more information, please visit www.fbiaa.org.
About Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder
Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder, based in Connecticut, is a nationally recognized law firm that, in 2022, achieved a landmark legal victory on behalf of nine families of the Sandy Hook School shooting. The firm has also achieved record verdicts for people who suffer serious harm from violation of their civil or constitutional rights, medical malpractice, dangerous products, negligence, corporate or governmental abuse and commercial misconduct.
