Former Chicago FBI chief sues DOJ officials over forced resignation

Douglas DePodesta, the former special agent in charge of the FBI’s Chicago field office, filed a federal lawsuit on Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, alleging he was forced to resign due to his involvement in the failed prosecution of the Broadview Six. The lawsuit names U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois Andrew Boutros, FBI Director Kash Patel, and U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche as defendants.

DePodesta, who served as the head of the Chicago field office from 2024 until July 2026, claims he was made a scapegoat for the collapse of the case against six protesters arrested during an immigration enforcement operation in 2025. The charges against the group were dismissed in May 2026 after U.S. District Judge April M. Perry found that prosecutors in the office of Andrew Boutros had improperly influenced grand jurors to secure indictments.

The lawsuit alleges that Boutros initiated a campaign within the Department of Justice to blame DePodesta for the prosecutorial failures to deflect attention from his own actions. Among the allegations, the complaint states that Boutros falsely claimed DePodesta conspired with his sister-in-law, a defense attorney who represented one of the protesters involved in the Broadview Six case.

Beyond the allegations regarding the Broadview Six, the filing contends that DePodesta was pressured by leadership to launch politically motivated investigations against individuals opposed to the current administration. DePodesta is seeking reinstatement to his position, back pay, and damages for the alleged harm to his professional reputation.

The case is currently pending in federal court in Chicago.