FBI Agent Fired Over Pride Flag? Lawsuit Filed

David Maltinsky sues FBI alleging wrongful termination for displaying a Pride flag. He claims discrimination after being fired weeks before graduation, calling it unconstitutional.

Christopher Wiggins is The Supporter’s elderly national reporter in Washington, D.C., covering the junction of public policy and politics with LGBTQ+ lives, consisting of The White House, United State Congress, Supreme Court, and government companies. He has actually created numerous cover tale profiles for The Advocate’s print magazine, profiling numbers like Delaware Congresswoman Sarah McBride, longtime LGBTQ+ ally Vice Head of state Kamala Harris, and ABC Good Morning America Weekend break anchor Gio Benitez. Wiggins is devoted to amplifying untold stories, specifically as the 2nd Trump management’s plans effect LGBTQ+ (and particularly transgender) legal rights, and can be gotten to at christopher.wiggins@equalpride.com or on BlueSky at cwnewser.bsky.social; whistleblowers can securely call him on Signal at cwdc.98.

Maltinsky’s Termination: A Claim of Discrimination

The 18-page issue, submitted Wednesday in the United State District Court for the District of Columbia, insists that David M. Maltinsky was swiftly rejected from the FBI Academy on October 1, 2025, just three weeks before he was arranged to graduate as a special representative. He declares the discontinuation was unconstitutional and politically inspired, arguing that Patel targeted him for shielded expression and for being “a proud gay man.”

According to the claim, the termination came without warning. Maltinsky had completed 16 of the FBI Academy’s 19-week Basic Field Training Course and had passed all major legal and physical benchmarks. That evening, he was escorted to an executive suite and handed a letter signed by Patel mentioning he was being gotten rid of “under my authority as FBI Supervisor” for an “unsuitable screen of political signage” throughout his previous assignment at the Los Angeles Area Office, the complaint states. The only signage he displayed, his attorneys composed, was the Development Satisfaction flag.

Pride Flag Display: Approved or Offense?

The lawsuit defines it as “a clear and brazen infraction of government regulation and the Constitution.” It states that Maltinsky’s screen of the Satisfaction flag “did not go against any type of FBI rules, procedures, or plans– and instead was authorized by his leadership.”

Maltinsky contends that the flag held deep individual value. The grievance keeps in mind that in 2021, after the Development Satisfaction flag flew outside the Wilshire Federal Building throughout Pride Month, leadership offered the flags to him “in unique acknowledgment of his efforts to improve the FBI.”

“Kash Patel’s and Pam Bondi’s ongoing unlawful assaults on the FBI and knowledgeable public servants like David jeopardize the American individuals extra and extra every day,” he claimed. Thanks to David’s courage, Patel and Bondi will certainly be held to account for their unconstitutional attack on Americans that simply desire to serve their country as they are.”

Reactions and Legal Action

The lawsuit quotes the termination letter straight. Patel created, “I have identified that you worked out bad judgment with an improper screen of political signs in your workplace.” The complaint suggests that this justification was pretextual and prejudiced, noting that the FBI routinely allowed representatives to show Blue Line flags, Gadsden flags, and Punisher imagery at their workstations.

Luke Schleusener, Chief Executive Officer of Out in National Safety and security, previously condemned the firing, calling it “a clear act of predisposition and an alerting to public slaves and allies who believe they ought to be totally free to show support for LGBTQIA+ Americans at the office.” He told The Supporter in October that “in a free culture, civil servant should never fear retaliation for such a simple act of solidarity and satisfaction.”

Contradictory Standards Alleged

“Kash Patel’s and Pam Bondi’s ongoing unlawful attacks on the FBI and experienced public slaves like David jeopardize the American people more and extra every day,” he claimed.

Maltinsky had completed 16 of the FBI Academy’s 19-week Basic Area Training Course and had passed all major legal and physical benchmarks. That night, he was accompanied to an exec collection and handed a letter authorized by Patel specifying he was being removed “under my authority as FBI Supervisor” for an “improper screen of political signage” during his previous project at the Los Angeles Field Office, the grievance states. The complaint suggests that this justification was pretextual and inequitable, keeping in mind that the FBI regularly allowed representatives to present Blue Line flags, Gadsden flags, and Punisher imagery at their workstations.

Christopher Wiggins is The Supporter’s senior nationwide press reporter in Washington, D.C., covering the intersection of public policy and politics with LGBTQ+ lives, including The White House, U.S. Congress, High Court, and government agencies. He has composed numerous cover story accounts for The Advocate’s print magazine, profiling numbers like Delaware Congresswoman Sarah McBride, long time LGBTQ+ ally Vice President Kamala Harris, and ABC Greetings America Weekend break support Gio Benitez. Wiggins is dedicated to enhancing unimaginable tales, particularly as the second Trump administration’s policies influence LGBTQ+ (and particularly transgender) legal rights, and can be gotten to at christopher.wiggins@equalpride.com or on BlueSky at cwnewser.bsky.social; whistleblowers can firmly call him on Signal at cwdc.98.

A previous FBI intelligence expert who invested greater than 16 years inside the bureau is filing a claim against FBI Supervisor Kash Patel, Attorney General Of The United States Pam Bondi, the FBI, and the Department of Justice, alleging he was unlawfully discharged for displaying a Progression Satisfaction flag.