Fired FBI employees file suit, call firings political retribution

What BBN said about it

1. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorEmployees fired over the classified documents investigation of President Trump have sued to get their jobs back, calling the firings political retribution.

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   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThat's the one-sentence version, and I love a one-sentence version. Walk me through the details, because I just walked in.

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   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe suit was filed Thursday. AP News says it comes from FBI agents and analysts who were let go for their roles in that probe.

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   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorAgents and analysts. So not just the folks with badges.

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   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThat's how AP describes it. Newsmax says the complaint calls the terminations unlawful acts of political retribution.

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   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorRetribution. That's a big word for a Thursday.

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   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe New York Times reported earlier today that the suit names Director Kash Patel and others, and points to the scrutiny he faced over his trip to the Olympics in Milan.

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   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorSo how did we get here? What was the original case?

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   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe investigation looked at the president's retention of classified documents at his Florida estate.

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    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe people suing worked on it, and they say that's why they were fired.

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    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorAnd who does this touch? Is it just the people in the lawsuit?

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    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorMost directly, yes. Newsmax says the complaint adds to a growing list of disputes over firings tied to that investigation.

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    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorHow many people are involved isn't clear from what we have.

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    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorNot clear. I'd put that on a banner, but the banner is already busy.

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    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorIt is. Now, the competing views. The plaintiffs say this was punishment for doing their jobs on a politically charged case.

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    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorAnd the other side? There's always another side, I've been to a county fair.

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    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorWe haven't been given a response from the Bureau in the coverage we have, so we can't tell you its argument.

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    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorLeadership has the power to hire and fire, and that's likely where it starts.

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    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorLikely. I wanted a rebuttal. I came hungry.

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    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorWanting a rebuttal doesn't make one appear, Chip. That's why they have courts.

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    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorOkay, so what happens next? Do they get their desks back by dinner?

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    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorNo. A suit like this takes months at minimum. Watch for the government's formal response and whether a judge is assigned quickly.

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    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorMonths. So we're looking at a long legal process before anything gets resolved.

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    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorA slow cooker, fine. The one-sentence version, then: fired FBI staff say the firings were political, and a court now has to decide.

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    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorGot it. Fired, filed, and now we wait for a judge.

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    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorFiled this afternoon, and the only thing that's moved fast is the chyron.