Former DHS Employee Files Federal Lawsuit Over Termination Following Secretly Recorded Date
A former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employee has initiated legal proceedings against the agency, alleging wrongful termination after a secretly recorded date during which he criticised Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Brandon Wright, who served eight years in IT at DHS, filed the federal lawsuit in Washington DC on Monday, claiming his First Amendment rights were violated.
Allegations of "Yellow Journalism Tactics" and Secret Recording
Wright's lawsuit details how his employment came to an "abrupt end" following what he describes as "yellow journalism tactics" deployed by an unidentified woman he met on the dating app Bumble. The legal documents refer to the woman as Heidi Doe and allege she was "working for compensation and/or in conjunction" with conservative provocateur James O'Keefe and his O'Keefe Media Group (OMG).
According to the complaint, Wright met Heidi Doe for a date in January 2025 after she contacted him on Bumble, presenting herself as a liberal supporting LGBTQ+ rights and feminism. The lawsuit states that during their conversation over cocktails, Doe "continually steered the conversation to politics" and specifically towards Secretary Noem, remarking that she thought Noem was "crazy". Wright claims he agreed with this interpretation during their discussion.
Video Publication and Subsequent Termination
Several days after the date, a 13-minute video showing Wright talking to the woman appeared on various social media platforms including YouTube and X, interspersed with commentary from James O'Keefe. The lawsuit describes the video as presenting "several clips that are repeated more than once and out of context" and claims it was recorded without Wright's consent.
Following the video's circulation online, DHS placed Wright on administrative leave on 30 January 2025. The agency ultimately terminated his employment on 8 January 2026, citing "conduct unbecoming of a federal employee" in reference to his off-duty remarks about Secretary Noem. The lawsuit alleges DHS concluded that Wright's continued employment would "signal to the workforce that it is permissible for employees to undermine the Secretary, the President's and [the deciding official's] agenda and authority".
First Amendment Protection Claims
Wright's legal team, led by high-profile attorney Mark Zaid, argues that the termination violated Wright's First Amendment right to freedom of speech. The lawsuit states: "Mr Wright's intended private expression of his personal opinions, especially during nonduty hours, is quintessential protected speech on a matter of public concern."
Zaid further commented: "The First Amendment permits individuals to hold and express opinions that might be critical of the US Government, even when that individual might be a federal employee." He suggested the termination represented an example of the Trump administration's efforts to suppress dissent.
Threatening Communications and Legal Proceedings
The lawsuit also details threatening communications Wright allegedly received following the date. According to the complaint, he received "threatening" voicemails from an unknown number stating "You're famous, buddy" and warning he would soon lose his job. He also reportedly received a text message with a screenshot from Google Maps of his old home and a reference to a "honeypot scheme".
Wright named DHS, Heidi Doe, and Secretary Kristi Noem as defendants in the lawsuit. Neither James O'Keefe nor OMG are being sued in this particular action. DHS has not responded to requests for comment regarding the legal proceedings.
The case raises significant questions about the boundaries of free speech for government employees during their private time and the legal protections available when private conversations are recorded without consent and subsequently used in employment decisions.
