Veteran FBI Employee Sues Bureau After Dismissal Over Pride Flag
A decorated FBI employee with 16 years of service is taking legal action against the bureau after being fired for displaying an LGBTQ+ Pride flag at his workstation. David Maltinsky, who was nearing the end of his training to become a special agent, was summarily dismissed last month, according to a lawsuit filed in a Washington federal court.
The Details of the Case
David Maltinsky had a distinguished career as an intelligence specialist in the Los Angeles field office before pursuing his dream of becoming a special agent. The lawsuit states that in June 2021, the Los Angeles field office itself displayed a 'Progress Pride' flag. This specific flag, featuring rainbow stripes with an additional chevron in black, brown, pink, light blue, and white, is designed to represent people of colour alongside the broader LGBTQ+ community.
After the flag was taken down from its original display, Maltinsky was given it and, crucially, received permission from his supervisors to display it at his own workstation. The situation changed dramatically when Maltinsky was 16 weeks into the 19-week special agent training programme at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. He was called into a meeting with FBI officials, presented with a letter from Director Kash Patel, and informed of his "summary dismissal." The reason cited was the inappropriate display of political signage.
Legal Action and Wider Implications
The lawsuit, filed on Wednesday, names Kash Patel, the FBI, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and the Justice Department as defendants. Among other remedies, Maltinsky is seeking reinstatement to his position. The suit argues that his dismissal violated his First Amendment rights to free speech and his Fifth Amendment rights to equal protection under the law.
Maltinsky's attorney, Christopher M. Mattei, characterised the firing as an unlawful attack. "This case is about far more than one man’s career — it’s about whether the government can punish Americans simply for saying who they are," Mattei said in a statement. This case is not isolated; other lawsuits challenging the FBI's personnel decisions have been filed since the beginning of President Donald Trump's second term, including one from three high-ranking officials who claim they were fired in a "campaign of retribution."
The context of this dismissal includes an executive order issued by President Trump in January, which ended all diversity, equity, and inclusion programmes within the government. The FBI has declined to comment on the ongoing litigation.
