The Trump administration is alleged to have pressured the FBI to investigate Los Angeles protesters engaged in constitutionally protected activity, according to a whistleblower complaint filed by a former bureau supervisor, NBC News reported Tuesday.
Jill Fields, a former supervisory intelligence analyst in the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office, alleged that senior Justice Department and White House officials pushed the bureau to investigate anti-ICE protesters early last year despite concerns inside the FBI that their activities were protected by the First Amendment.
According to Fields' complaint, Emil Bove, then acting deputy attorney general, instructed the head of the Los Angeles field office to open an investigation into activity outside a federal building.
In a separate episode, Fields alleged the White House directed FBI Director Kash Patel to investigate protesters who used megaphones during immigration enforcement operations after agents had already reviewed their conduct and declined to open a case.
President Donald Trump had seen video of protesters using megaphones to warn residents about operations targeting illegal aliens, explain their legal rights, and urge them not to open their doors without a signed judicial warrant, according to the complaint.
A person whose name was redacted allegedly told Fields an investigation would be opened because "the president wants this investigation."
Fields also alleged agents were diverted from active cartel investigations,...
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