House Democrats Accuse DOJ of Paying Settlements to Former FBI Agents

House Judiciary Democrats, led by Rep. Jamie Raskin, sent a seven-page letter to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche alleging the Justice Department authorized over $1 million in lump-sum and back-pay settlements for former FBI agents terminated, suspended, or stripped of security clearances for misconduct.

The Hill

Federal agencies routinely settle administrative claims; recent DOJ agreements include $25 million payments to former national-security adviser Michael Flynn and former campaign adviser Carter Page. The current complaints focus on settlements processed under FBI Director Kash Patel and the Deputy Attorney General’s office.

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Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD); Acting AG Todd Blanche; FBI Director Kash Patel; Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA); DOJ official Vance Day; Empower Oversight president Tristan Leavitt.

Raw Story

Payments include $63,500 to a Jan 6 participant, $15,000 to an agent accused of leaking classified information, and over $61,000 plus back-pay to Special Agent Steven Friend; total payouts exceed $1 million for about a dozen former agents.

The Hill

The agencies declined comment. Rep. Raskin’s letter says the agents were disciplined for reckless misuse of classified information and other serious misconduct, not for protected whistleblowing. Empower Oversight president Tristan Leavitt called the letter a “toddler’s temper tantrum” and said settlements are routine. Sen. Grassley’s office called the letter defamatory and reiterated his long-standing support for whistleblowers.

The Hill

Empower Oversight disputes the “disgraced” label, noting at least one client’s clearance was later reinstated. Critics say the undisclosed identities of the agents and staffers from Grassley’s office involved in the settlements raise concerns of political favoritism. The letter does not name all recipients, leaving the total number of settlements uncertain.

The Hill

• “You have now proceeded behind closed doors to order the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to pay millions of dollars to former FBI agents who were suspended, fired, and had their clearances revoked for criminal activity, major breaches of national security, or violations of the standards of conduct and professionalism required of law enforcement agents.” — Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-MD

The Hill

• “All of these handouts constitute an astounding and lawless abuse of government office and taxpayer dollars,” — Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-MD

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• “It is common practice for federal agencies to settle legal or administrative complaints against them, which (as Empower Oversight made public on March 19, 2025) virtually all of the whistleblowers had against the FBI at the time of the settlements,” — Tristan Leavitt, President, Empower Oversight

The Hill

• “This seven-page screed is a disgusting and defamatory attempt to smear legitimate whistleblowers while protecting their Biden administration retaliators.” — Clare Slattery, spokesperson for Sen. Chuck Grassley

The Hill

The letter seeks a full accounting of all DOJ-FBI settlements and a review of decision-making. Director Kash Patel is slated to testify before Senate appropriators, where lawmakers may probe the payments. House Judiciary Democrats plan further oversight hearings on compliance with settlement guidelines.

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