Former FBI Chicago Chief Sues DOJ Over Dismissal

Douglas DePodesta, the former head of the FBI’s Chicago field office, filed a lawsuit Monday alleging he was dismissed after federal prosecutors blamed him for a failed case against local demonstrators. The 24-year FBI veteran claims top Justice Department officials forced his hand after a high-profile prosecution collapsed earlier this year.

DePodesta, who stepped down against his will this summer, says his superiors informed him that FBI Director Kash Patel wanted him fired. The suit names Andrew Boutros, the top federal prosecutor in Illinois, as the architect of a campaign to shift blame following the dismissal of charges against the so-called Broadview Six.

The conflict began with Operation Midway Blitz, a federal immigration enforcement action that drew roughly 30 protesters into the justice system. While many of those charges have since been dropped or dismissed, the six defendants in Broadview became the centerpiece of the legal dispute. DePodesta’s attorneys argue that Boutros pushed for felony charges before collecting objective evidence.

According to the lawsuit, Boutros demanded that DePodesta open FBI investigations into individuals with political views opposing the Trump administration. The suit alleges that Boutros pressured subordinate attorneys to press charges before completing investigations and sought felony counts when assistants favored misdemeanors or no charges.

The case against the six protesters charged with conspiring to obstruct a federal officer unraveled in May. Court transcripts, which a judge ordered de-redacted, show that a grand jury twice refused to indict the group despite prosecutors’ urging and an unusual speech by Boutros to the jurors. As the court moved to investigate possible prosecutorial misconduct, Boutros dropped all charges against the six.

DePodesta’s attorneys state that Boutros repeatedly complained to Washington superiors that the failure was DePodesta’s fault. DePodesta denied these accusations, and FBI leadership conceded he was being forced out due to the political pressure Boutros created. The suit further alleges Boutros told Justice Department leadership that DePodesta and his sister-in-law, Nancy DePodesta, an attorney representing one of the defendants, conspired to destroy the case.

Nancy DePodesta confirmed her relationship to the former FBI chief and said in a statement that it is heartbreaking that he was forced out based on what appear to be false rumors. She described the situation as shameful, noting that DePodesta took his oath of office and ethical responsibilities seriously.

In late September, a prosecutor on the Broadview Six case resigned, citing a scathing letter that claimed Boutros scapegoated and publicly vilified her. She has since asked the court to treat her as an independent party. The former defendants have asked U.S. District Judge April Perry to appoint a special counsel to look into possible misconduct.

At a hearing on October 1, Judge Perry ordered further fact-finding into communications between Boutros’ office and Justice Department leadership. DePodesta told The Associated Press that he saw the writing on the wall before his departure. The FBI and Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment, while Boutros’ office declined to comment.