FBI AGENTS WHO ACCUSED BUREAU OF POLITICIZATION UNDER BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SETTLE CASES. (PHOTO).

 FBI agents who accused bureau of politicization under Biden administration settle cases

The Justice Department has finalized settlements with ten current and former FBI agents who claimed they were unfairly disciplined for expressing personal or political views, including opinions about the January 6 Capitol attack and COVID-19 vaccine mandates. According to their attorneys, the cases also involved disputes with supervisors over investigative tactics. Empower Oversight, an organization founded by former staffers of Republican Senator Chuck Grassley, announced that eight of the settlements were reached in recent weeks. Several of the agents had previously accused the FBI of politicization under President Joe Biden’s administration, though FBI leadership has rejected that assertion. Among their complaints were objections to the vaccine mandate and criticism of the scope of the January 6 investigation. One agent had attended Donald Trump’s speech on the Ellipse that day and later went to the Capitol but was not involved in any violence, his attorneys said.

Under the agreements, three agents will return to active duty at the FBI, while others will be allowed to retire voluntarily or receive back pay and restored benefits. The FBI has not publicly commented on the settlements, though Director Kash Patel acknowledged on social media last week that agreements had been made. The resolutions come as Patel’s leadership has also drawn scrutiny for reassigning or firing senior FBI officials, including a former acting director and the head of the Washington field office, both of whom were involved in overseeing January 6 investigations. The FBI Agents Association has criticized these dismissals as lacking due process. Several of the reinstated agents were previously highlighted by Republican lawmakers during congressional hearings, alleging that the FBI targeted conservative viewpoints, claims Patel’s predecessor Chris Wray denied. Among those reinstated are Steve Friend, who refused to take part in a SWAT team arrest of a January 6 suspect; Garret O’Boyle, who raised concerns about how the bureau handled Jan. 6 cases; and Zachery Schoffstall, who objected to what he viewed as the omission of exculpatory evidence in an investigation into a white nationalist group. One earlier settlement involved Marcus Allen, who regained his security clearance last year before resigning.