Former head of Chicago’s FBI office says Trump team ordered ‘politically motivated investigations’ into protesters

Former head of Chicago’s FBI office says Trump team ordered ‘politically motivated investigations’ into protesters ‘I was ordered by the highest levels of the FBI that I needed to leave my position’ - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Already a member? Log in The former head of the FBI’s Chicago office is suing senior Justice Department officials, alleging he was forced to resign over his refusal to pursue politically motivated investigations into anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement protesters. Douglas DePodesta, a 24-year bureau veteran, filed the lawsuit Monday, accusing federal officials of pressuring him to target people opposed to the Trump administration, The Associated Press reports. He also claims Andrew Boutros, the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, sought his removal and later blamed him for the collapse of a high-profile case against six protesters. DePodesta, whose departure was announced over the summer, told the ABC7 Chicago I-Team that he did not leave the bureau voluntarily. "I was forced to resign. This was by no way voluntary," DePodesta said in an interview published Monday. "I was ordered by the highest levels of the FBI that I needed to leave my position." The lawsuit names FBI Director Kash Patel, Attorney General Todd Blanche, Boutros, the Justice Department and the FBI as defendants. It alleges that "Boutros initiated and caused unconstitutional actions taken against DePodesta." Boutros is accused of pressuring senior officials to remove DePodesta after the prosecution of the so-called “Broadview Six” fell apart. "In a vain attempt to salvage his own reputation, Defendant Boutros pressured and convinced Defendants Patel, FBI, Blanche, and DOJ to sacrifice an outstanding public servant," the lawsuit states. The allegations center on Operation Midway Blitz, the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement campaign in the Chicago area last fall. According to the complaint, officials in Washington pressured Boutros to bring felony charges against protesters despite concerns that prosecutors lacked sufficient evidence. DePodesta alleges he repeatedly asked for evidence that would justify opening FBI investigations into protesters accused of assaulting federal officers. He claims his refusal to pursue investigations without adequate factual support was met with hostility from Boutros. "In each instance, DePodesta would request factual predication that would justify opening an investigation," the lawsuit alleges, citing his obligations under Justice Department regulations and professional standards. The lawsuit also claims Boutros sought to blame DePodesta after the Broadview Six case unraveled, deflecting scrutiny from the conduct of federal prosecutors. The six protesters were charged with conspiring to obstruct a federal officer following a demonstration outside an ICE detention facility in Broadview, a suburb west of Chicago. The prosecution collapsed after U.S. District Judge April Perry reviewed grand jury proceedings and raised concerns about possible prosecutorial misconduct. The charges were ultimately dismissed in May. DePodesta alleges Boutros subsequently told Justice Department officials in Washington that he and his sister-in-law, Nancy DePodesta, an attorney representing one of the defendants, had conspired to destroy the case. The former FBI chief denies having any role in the prosecution’s charging decisions. Nancy DePodesta defended her brother-in-law in a statement to AP. "There is no one at the FBI who took their oath of office and their ethical and moral responsibilities more seriously than Doug," she said, adding that it was "both heartbreaking and shameful that he was forced out of his position based on what appear to be utterly false rumors spread by" Boutros. DePodesta said he is concerned about the FBI’s independence and the possibility that political considerations are influencing federal investigations. "You know what frightens me? I was in the FBI for 24 years. Since 1908, it has been an apolitical organization," DePodesta said. "We have always done the right thing for the right way at the right time. I'm not sure if this FBI is doing the right thing the right way." "It scares the hell out of me," he told ABC7 Chicago. The lawsuit comes as the court continues to examine the handling of the Broadview Six prosecution. Hours after DePodesta filed his complaint, Perry ordered Boutros and three assistant U.S. attorneys to testify under oath on November 16 as part of the inquiry into possible misconduct. Boutros has previously denied that politics influenced his office’s charging decisions. The Independent has contacted Boutros' office, the FBI and the Justice Department for comment. Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments