Former FBI Agents Challenge Dismissal Over 2020 Protest Kneeling: Legal Battle Against Director Patel Unfolds

Dec 09, 2025 12:09 pm CST

Twelve former FBI agents have filed a federal lawsuit seeking reinstatement after being fired by Director Kash Patel for kneeling during a 2020 racial justice protest. The agents claim their action was a tactical de-escalation technique that successfully prevented violence during tense demonstrations following George Floyd's death. The lawsuit alleges political motivation behind their dismissals, which occurred five years after the incident despite previous clearance from both the FBI and Justice Department.