FBI whistleblower alleges Trump ordered investigations of L.A.-area immigration protesters

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Set us as preferred A former FBI intelligence analyst has alleged that President Trump ordered the FBI to launch unconstitutional investigations into immigration enforcement protesters from the Los Angeles area, according to a whistleblower report made public Tuesday by Sen.Alex Padilla (D-Calif.).She also contended that substantial FBI resources were diverted to such probes, and that she was retaliated against for questioning their legality.The White House and the top federal prosecutor in Los Angeles both denied the allegations.Jill Fields, a former supervisory intelligence analyst based in L.A., said in a letter addressed to Congress from her attorneys that she was told Trump had ordered FBI Director Kash Patel to launch the probes after seeing a social media video of protests against U.S.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S.Customs and Border Protection operations in Alhambra in February 2025.

Fields said an initial assessment “determined that the protesters’ actions — video recording, use of a megaphone, and verbal objection — were constitutionally protected under the First Amendment and never crossed the line into impeding arrest or being a threat,” but that she and others were nonetheless directed to open investigations.She said that a supervisor — whose name was redacted in the released report — said the investigation was moving forward because “the President wants this investigation.”Separately, Fields alleged that she was informed that then-Acting Deputy Atty.Gen.

Emil Bove — Trump’s former lawyer and now a federal appellate court judge — had instructed FBI leaders in Los Angeles to investigate “any anti-ICE and CBP protesters demonstrating at federal buildings in Los Angeles,” which surprised her because “investigations against protestors solely for First Amendment activity ar...