Former Chicago FBI chief sues Justice Department, alleging he was scapegoated
Douglas DePodesta, the former head of the FBI in Chicago, sued top Justice Department officials on Monday, the Chicago Tribune reports. He alleges he was blamed for a failed case against six protesters and forced out of his job. The US attorney and the department did not reply right away to the Tribune.
Douglas DePodesta led the FBI's Chicago field office until this summer. On Monday he filed a federal lawsuit against top Justice Department officials, the Chicago Tribune reports. He alleges he was made a scapegoat for the failed "Broadview Six" case and forced out of his job, the Guardian and Fox News report.
The suit names US Attorney Andrew Boutros, Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel, the Tribune reports. It also names the FBI and the Justice Department. It seeks DePodesta's reinstatement, back pay and unspecified damages, the Tribune says.
"Let there be no question, my resignation was by no way voluntary," DePodesta said in an interview with the Tribune.
The suit alleges that Boutros sent emails asking DePodesta to open FBI cases into critics of the Trump administration, the Guardian, Fox News and the Tribune report.
The Broadview Six were charged after a protest in September 2025, the Guardian reports. The protest was at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement site in Broadview, a Chicago suburb. Grand jurors twice declined to indict the six, Fox News reports, citing the Associated Press. Boutros dropped all charges in May, Fox News says. The court was moving to look into possible misconduct by prosecutors at the time.
DePodesta's suit alleges that Boutros blamed him to deflect attention from his own missteps, Fox News reports. The suit also alleges that Boutros made "intentionally" false statements to a judge, the Guardian reports. Boutros had said in court he was "completely unaware" of problems in the grand jury proceedings, the Guardian says.
Hours after the suit was filed, US District Judge April Perry ordered Boutros and three of his assistants to testify under oath later this month, Fox News reports. Perry wrote that there was "more than an adequate factual basis" to look into whether false statements were made to the court, according to Fox News.
Representatives for Boutros and the Justice Department did not immediately return messages, the Tribune reports. The accounts in the suit are DePodesta's allegations.
Where outlets agree The Guardian, Fox News and the Chicago Tribune agree that former Chicago FBI chief Douglas DePodesta sued top Justice Department officials on Monday, alleging he was blamed for the failed Broadview Six case.
Where they differ The cited reports agree on the key facts so far.