Chicago FBI chief says Trump team ordered politically motivated protest probes

Lawsuit alleges pressure to investigate

DePodesta’s lawsuit names FBI Director Kash Patel, Attorney General Todd Blanche, Boutros, the Justice Department and the FBI as defendants. It alleges Boutros initiated unconstitutional actions against him and sought his removal.

Dispute over Broadview prosecution

The case involved 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 prosecution later fell apart.

DePodesta alleges Boutros blamed him for the case’s collapse and told Justice Department officials that DePodesta and his sister-in-law, Nancy DePodesta, had conspired to destroy it. Nancy DePodesta represented one of the defendants. Doug DePodesta denies involvement in charging decisions.

DePodesta challenges departure

DePodesta’s departure from the FBI was announced over the summer. In an interview with the ABC7 Chicago I-Team, he said he did not leave voluntarily and was ordered by senior FBI officials to leave his position.

He says he is concerned that political considerations could influence federal investigations and undermine the FBI’s independence. Boutros has previously denied that politics affected his office’s charging decisions.