A former FBI employee has alleged that President Donald Trump’s administration pressured the bureau to investigate protesters in Los Angeles, even though their actions were constitutionally protected. Jill Fields, a former supervisory analyst at the FBI’s Los Angeles office, filed a complaint with the Senate Judiciary Committee’s leadership concerning federal actions against protests near Immigration and Customs Enforcement buildings and in a residential area early last year.

Fields’ lawyers asked Congress and the Justice Department inspector general to investigate the allegations. She says the actions violated freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Fields alleges that Emil Bove, then acting deputy attorney general, ordered the head of the FBI office to begin an investigation into activity outside a federal building. In her account, the protest represented constitutionally protected speech.

Separately, Fields says the White House instructed FBI Director Kash Patel to investigate a group of protesters who used megaphones during immigration-enforcement operations. FBI agents had previously reviewed the protesters’ conduct and decided not to open an investigation.

The complaint says Trump watched a video showing people using megaphones to warn residents about immigration operations, inform them of their legal rights and urge them not to open their doors unless immigration officers had judicial warrants. An unnamed person told Fields that an investigation would be opened because “the president wants this investigation,” according to the complaint.

The protests began after the Trump administration launched an immigration-enforcement operation. Fields says the FBI’s Los Angeles office pulled agents from active drug-cartel investigations to carry out a task that one supervisor described as related to “optics” and intended to “make a show for the president.” The area later became the site of major protests as immigration operations expanded in cities across the country.

A Justice Department spokesperson called the complaint politically motivated. The spokesperson said violence is not protected by the First Amendment, although the complaint refers to nonviolent protests. “Under President Trump, the Justice Department will continue to vigorously defend the First Amendment rights of all Americans and restore the rule of law,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson added that the Justice Department and the FBI have a responsibility to investigate potential violations of federal law, while conspiracies to obstruct federal law-enforcement agencies and attacks on federal officers are illegal. The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Fields also alleges that supervisors were told not to put instructions in writing, so many directives were delivered in face-to-face meetings. She says she does not know whether an official investigation was launched because she was excluded from it after refusing to participate.

According to the complaint, Fields consulted a senior FBI official responsible for privacy and civil-liberties issues. The official expressed concern about the investigation and later told Fields that he intended to resign.

Fields herself left the bureau after being told she would be removed from leadership of three programs. She believes the decision was retaliation for protected internal disclosures. The complaint says the FBI’s actions created a “chilling effect” among employees and showed them that raising concerns about the legality or constitutionality of conduct could carry professional consequences.

The complaint says the actions had significant implications for constitutional rights, as well as for the integrity and effectiveness of the FBI. It also says hundreds of FBI agents and Justice Department lawyers have resigned or been dismissed since Trump returned to the White House, particularly employees involved in investigations into him.

California Democratic Senator Alex Padilla said Fields’ disclosure was another example of what he described as Trump using the Justice Department against perceived political opponents. “How many more of these investigations have been launched because of political pressure from the White House, despite questions and concerns about their legality and constitutionality?” Padilla asked.

Source: 24chasa.bg