FBI Whistleblower Alleges Trump Ordered Probe of Protesters

Former FBI supervisory intelligence analyst Jill Fields filed a whistleblower complaint with the Senate Judiciary Committee alleging that President Donald Trump ordered the FBI to investigate anti-immigration protesters in Southern California in early 2025. Fields claims the investigations targeted individuals exercising First Amendment rights, specifically citing protesters in Alhambra who used bullhorns to warn neighbors about immigration enforcement operations.

According to the complaint, Trump demanded the probe after viewing a TikTok video of the events. FBI Director Kash Patel allegedly informed leadership that the president wanted the protesters investigated and arrested. Fields further alleges that then-Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove ordered investigations into protesters outside a federal building, resulting in FBI agents being diverted from cartel investigations to fulfill these requests.

Senator Alex Padilla described the allegations as alarming and questioned the Justice Department's actions. A spokesperson for the United States Department of Justice defended the agency, stating that it has a responsibility to investigate conspiracies to impede law enforcement and assaults on federal officers.