Former Chicago FBI chief alleges pressure to target political opponents

Douglas DePodesta, who led the Chicago FBI office from 2024 until July 2026, filed the lawsuit on Monday, alleging misconduct and malfeasance within the DoJ. The suit names Kash Patel, the FBI director; Todd Blanche, the attorney general; and Andrew Boutros, the US attorney for the DoJ’s Chicago office, as defendants.

DePodesta’s complaint centers on the collapse of a criminal case against six activists protesting an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Broadview, Illinois, in September 2025, a situation he describes as an “unprecedented disaster.” He accuses Boutros of pursuing “politically motivated prosecutions” and making false statements to a judge.

The lawsuit details instances where Boutros allegedly pressured DePodesta to initiate investigations targeting individuals with political views opposing the Trump administration. On one occasion, Boutros reportedly became “openly hostile” after the FBI declined to produce an affidavit claiming a protester had assaulted an officer, after video evidence contradicted that assertion.

The case involved a grand jury initially rejecting charges, a rare occurrence, and prosecutors repeatedly attempting to secure an indictment despite grand juror skepticism. Boutros publicly denied political motivations and claimed no communication with DoJ headquarters, assertions DePodesta’s suit alleges were false, as DePodesta claims to have attended meetings where Boutros discussed the case with DoJ officials, including Patel and Blanche.

The suit suggests pressure from the Trump administration to target Kat Abughazaleh, an activist and congressional candidate. A judge later found prosecutorial misconduct in the grand jury proceedings, and Boutros reportedly claimed ignorance of the issues, a claim DePodesta disputes.

Following the case’s failure, DePodesta alleges Boutros attempted to deflect blame by accusing him of conspiring with his sister-in-law, Nancy DePodesta, a defense attorney representing one of the defendants. Despite denials and support from senior FBI officials, DePodesta claims he was pressured to resign in July.

At the time of his departure, the FBI posted on X.com a statement suggesting those disagreeing with the agency’s direction under President Trump were free to leave, a statement DePodesta’s suit calls “false and defamatory.”

The lawsuit alleges defamation and violations of due process and free speech rights. DePodesta stated in an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times, “The American people need to know what is happening within their government … I will not let fear silence me.” Only approximately 6% of cases brought by Boutros against anti-ICE protesters during Operation Midway Blitz have resulted in a finding of guilt, according to the lawsuit.

Representatives for the DoJ, Boutros, and the FBI have not responded to requests for comment.