David Maltinsky, a 16-year veteran, says in lawsuit agency retaliated against him for engaging in protected speech

A longtime FBI employee has filed a lawsuit alleging that he was fired for displaying a Pride flag at his desk, naming the FBI director, Kash Patel, the justice department and the attorney general, Pam Bondi, as defendants.

According to David Maltinsky, an intelligence specialist who had served with the bureau for 16 years, his wrongful termination earlier this year was “unconstitutional and politically motivated”.

The lawsuit claims the FBI violated Maltinsky’s first amendment rights and took retaliatory action against him for engaging in protected speech. Maltinsky is seeking a court order to restore his job.

    • ameancow@lemmy.world
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      14 hours ago

      FBI has done some heinous shit in the past, and under this director is likely doing some heinous shit now, but these aren’t traffic cops pulling people over because they’re driving while black, these aren’t people shooting your family dog or sprinkling crack on your corpse.

      We largely need the FBI or an institution like them. If I have to explain why we need some level of federal law enforcement, then I encourage you to touch a lot more grass and history books.

      • balsoft@lemmy.ml
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        13 hours ago

        these aren’t traffic cops pulling people over because they’re driving while black, these aren’t people shooting your family dog or sprinkling crack on your corpse.

        Yeah, they are worse. They are the guys infiltrating and destroying socialist and communist parties, propping up union-busting corpos, and defending big capitalists’ property.

        Do countries need national/federal police? Yes. But FBI is doing so much heinous shit (as does every other policing institution in the US) that everyone working for them is a class traitor even if by willful association.

      • balsoft@lemmy.ml
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        14 hours ago

        You don’t need to be sympathetic to someone in order to fight common enemies together. Temporary allies yes, friends/comrades no.