A veteran Federal Bureau of Investigation intelligence specialist has brought a legal case claiming his let go for displaying a Pride flag within his workstation.
Based on the plaintiff, that was employed for the FBI for 16 years, the firing recently was “improper and biased”.
The legal filing argues that the FBI infringed upon the employee’s First Amendment rights and took punitive action in his case for participating in protected communication.
Maltinsky is requesting a court order to return his position at the bureau.
The detailed complaint, submitted in a Washington court in the nation’s capital, alleges that the employee was dismissed from his training recently for earlier showing the flag at his workstation.
According to the filing, the Pride flag was awarded to the plaintiff to acknowledge his efforts to advance the bureau’s equality efforts.
Since childhood, my goal was to serve the United States and safeguard public safety together with the skilled and devoted personnel of the FBI,” said the former employee.
He continued, I exhibited that symbol – which once flew in front of the Los Angeles office – not as a political statement, but rather as an emblem of acceptance, solidarity and impartial service.
These ideals that previously strengthened a robust FBI. Today it has become where individuals such as myself are targeted. I think I was fired not because of my person, but what I am: a homosexual man,” he concluded.
Earlier this year, Maltinsky was accepted into the FBI special agent training academy at Quantico, Virginia, until his “abrupt dismissal only weeks prior to finishing”.
The complaint additionally states that eventually following Donald Trump’s inauguration, an colleague raised an issue to Maltinsky’s direct supervisor about the exhibition of the Pride flag.
To be safe, the plaintiff requested that the legal advisor for the Los Angeles field office assess whether or not the display of the symbol was permissible,” the document stated.
The document continued, The legal officer advised the employee that exhibiting of the symbol complied with any policy, rule, or regulation.”
Despite this, in early October, the plaintiff was informed of his termination.
In correspondence referenced in the filing, FBI director the director stated, I decided that you used bad decision-making with the presence of a partisan emblem in your office in your prior role in Los Angeles.
In accordance with the Constitution of the U.S. Constitution, and regulations of the nation, your job with the FBI is now ended.”
In a release provided recently, his legal representative the attorney remarked, “This administration’s unlawfully firing him is part of a broader effort to purge public offices of workers who may have divergent opinions, or belong to marginalized groups, or those who speak out against bias.
“David’s fight is not only for him, but also about ensuring the entitlements and freedoms of all federal employees.”
The bureau refused to respond regarding the case.
Maltinsky’s lawsuit follows another one lodged recently by three former senior FBI officials who alleged they’d been improperly dismissed.
They alleged that Patel said he had been directed by the president’s office to fire any employee involved in a probe concerning Donald Trump.
Meanwhile, the agency fired a nearly three-decade veteran recently following the official was said to be angered over news that the FBI director flown on a federal plane to be present at a sports event during which his partner rendered the national anthem.
The veteran, an agency staffer for many years, was fired as head of the FBI’s critical incident response group, that handles significant risks and FBI planes.
A seasoned journalist with a passion for uncovering stories that matter in the Czech Republic and beyond.
