‘Punished for Doing Our Job’: Ex-FBI agents challenge dismissal linked to Trump case

Two former agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have filed a federal lawsuit alleging they were wrongfully terminated for their involvement in an investigation into U.S. President Donald Trump and his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results .

The agents, identified in court filings as John Doe 1 and John Doe 2, claim they were dismissed “solely” because of their participation in the inquiry, internally referred to as “Arctic Frost.” The probe examined attempts to challenge the outcome of the election that brought Joe Biden to power.

According to the lawsuit filed in a federal court in Washington, both agents had unblemished service records , with one serving more than two decades in the Bureau and earning a Medal of Excellence for work on white-collar crime and public corruption cases. The other, a relatively younger agent, had been handling sensitive corruption investigations and had even briefed FBI leadership on active cases.

The complaint states that the agents were abruptly terminated in November without any formal explanation. One of them was reportedly summoned to the FBI’s Washington field office on Halloween and handed a termination notice while preparing to take his children trick-or-treating. The second agent, described as a senior case handler , was dismissed days later under similar circumstances.

The lawsuit argues that both agents strictly followed Department of Justice protocols and carried out their duties “ without bias or political motive .” It further alleges that their dismissals came shortly after Republican Senator Chuck Grassley released unredacted Justice Department documents related to the investigation, which exposed the identity of one of the agents.

The legal challenge is part of a broader wave of internal upheaval under FBI Director Kash Patel , who has overseen the removal of multiple personnel linked to politically sensitive investigations, including those involving Trump. Critics argue the dismissals signal a politicisation of federal law enforcement , while supporters contend they are necessary to address alleged institutional bias.

In their suit, the agents are seeking reinstatement and a judicial declaration that their terminations were unlawful . The FBI has declined to comment on the case.

The controversy adds to ongoing concerns about the independence of investigative agencies in handling politically charged cases, particularly those tied to the aftermath of the 2020 election.