By Basant El-Faramawy
Former Chicago FBI office head Douglas DePodesta has filed a lawsuit alleging he was forced to resign after refusing to open politically motivated investigations into protesters opposed to the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
Lawsuit Alleges Political Pressure
DePodesta, a 24-year FBI veteran, sued FBI Director Kash Patel, Attorney General Todd Blanche, U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros, the Justice Department and the FBI on Monday. The complaint states that senior officials in Washington pressured Boutros to bring felony charges against demonstrators during Operation Midway Blitz, the administration’s immigration enforcement campaign in the Chicago area last fall. DePodesta says he repeatedly asked for evidence to justify investigations into protesters accused of assaulting federal officers, but his refusal to proceed without adequate factual support was met with hostility from Boutros.
Collapse of Broadview Six Case
The allegations center on the prosecution of six protesters, known as the Broadview Six, who were charged with conspiring to obstruct a federal officer after a demonstration outside an ICE detention facility in Broadview, Illinois. The case unraveled when U.S. District Judge April Perry reviewed grand jury proceedings and raised concerns about possible prosecutorial misconduct, leading to the dismissal of charges in May. DePodesta claims Boutros subsequently blamed him and his sister-in-law, defense attorney Nancy DePodesta, for the collapse, alleging they conspired to destroy the case. Nancy DePodesta denied the accusation and praised her brother-in-law’s integrity.
Concerns Over FBI Independence
DePodesta said he fears political considerations are influencing federal investigations. “Since 1908, it has been an apolitical organization,” he told ABC7 Chicago. “I’m not sure if this FBI is doing the right thing the right way.” The lawsuit comes as Judge Perry has ordered Boutros and three assistant U.S. attorneys to testify under oath on November 16 as part of an inquiry into possible misconduct. Boutros has previously denied that politics influenced his office’s charging decisions. The FBI, Justice Department and Boutros’ office have not yet commented on the lawsuit.
