Doug DePodesta Claims DOJ Blamed Him for Botched Broadview Six Prosecutions

Douglas DePodesta filed a federal lawsuit on Monday, alleging he was forced to resign from his post as the FBI’s Chicago field office director. The former official is suing the Department of Justice, the FBI, U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche, and FBI Director Kash Patel. DePodesta claims he was made a scapegoat for a series of failed prosecutions related to Operation Midway Blitz, an immigration crackdown led by U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros.

DePodesta led the Chicago field office for just under two years. The suit argues that political pressure entered the office as the Trump administration launched the immigration operation last fall. DePodesta asserts that Boutros urged him to investigate individuals with political views opposing the administration. He described the environment as one of vindictive prosecution in an interview with CBS News Chicago.

The legal filing centers on the case against the Broadview Six, a group of protesters arrested outside an ICE detention facility in Broadview, Illinois, in 2025. Charges against the six were dismissed earlier this year. U.S. District Judge April Perry ordered grand jury transcripts after finding that Boutros’ team excluded dissenting votes to secure charges. DePodesta claims Boutros convinced Blanche and Patel to blame him for the botched prosecutions.

The lawsuit states that Boutros used DePodesta to deflect attention from his own failings. It alleges that Deputy Director Christopher Raia informed DePodesta that Boutros had accused him and his sister-in-law, attorney Nancy DePodesta, of conspiring to destroy the Broadview Six case. Nancy DePodesta was a prominent defense attorney who represented Michael Rabbitt, one of the six defendants. DePodesta claims he never spoke with his sister-in-law about the case and had no role in deciding to seek charges.

DePodesta is seeking his job back, backpay, and damages. He alleges that the actions of Boutros, Patel, and Blanche violated his First and Fifth Amendment rights. In the interview, he acknowledged the risk of suing his former employer. 'I know what this means. It essentially puts a target on my back, but I will not be silenced by fear,' he said.

He maintained that his resignation was not voluntary. 'My resignation was in no way voluntary. I was ordered to resign, period,' DePodesta stated. He emphasized the division of labor between the two agencies, noting that the FBI investigates while the U.S. Attorney’s Office decides which charges move forward to the grand jury.

DePodesta said his ouster had a chilling effect on the staff. 'It was very chilling to the men and women of the FBI in Chicago,' he said. He noted that the executive management team shielded the staff from the details of the conflict in Washington. He has since taken a job in the private sector after 24 years with the FBI.

DePodesta hopes other career professionals will feel comfortable sharing their stories. 'What I would like from this lawsuit is other people to feel comfortable to come out and tell their stories,' he said. He also urged the federal government to think twice before unjustly removing career staff.

CBS News Chicago reached out to the offices of Boutros and Blanche for comment. Neither had responded as of Monday. Boutros has previously denied that politics plays a role in his office.