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A veteran Federal Bureau of Investigation analyst has brought a legal case stating his let go for having an LGBTQ+ banner in his office space.

Based on the plaintiff, that worked for the FBI for 16 years, the dismissal in the past months is being described as “improper and biased”.

Legal Proceedings Asserts Constitutional Infringements

The complaint contends that the FBI breached the employee’s free speech protections and took disciplinary action in his case because of participating in legally safeguarded speech.

The plaintiff is requesting a court order to reinstate his job with the FBI.

Particulars in the Legal Filing

The 18-page filing, submitted in the US district court in the nation’s capital, states that Maltinsky was fired from the FBI academy last month because of earlier displaying the banner in his workspace.

According to the document, the LGBTQ+ banner was awarded to Maltinsky to honor his efforts to support the FBI’s inclusion programs.

Since childhood, all I have wanted to do was to serve the United States and protect its security together with the skilled and devoted personnel of the FBI,” stated Maltinsky.

He added, I exhibited that banner – which in 2021 was displayed at the Los Angeles office – not as a political statement, but rather as an emblem of acceptance, solidarity and impartial service.

These principles that once made the FBI strong. Today it has become where employees like me face discrimination. I think I was fired not on account of my identity, but rather because of what I represent: a homosexual man,” he concluded.

Unexpected Firing Just ahead of Completion

Recently, the employee gained admission to the FBI special agent training academy in Virginia, up until what he described as “sudden termination only weeks prior to finishing”.

The lawsuit further alleges that later after the presidential inauguration, a co-worker raised an issue to his manager concerning the exhibition of the Pride flag.

“Out of an abundance of caution, Maltinsky requested that the top lawyer for the Los Angeles field office assess whether the exhibition of the LGBTQ+ banner was allowed,” the filing said.

It added, “The Chief Division Counsel informed the plaintiff that the display of the flag was not against the agency’s standards.”

Notice of Firing

However, on 1 October, Maltinsky was notified of his dismissal.

In a letter cited in the lawsuit, FBI director Kash Patel stated, I decided that you exercised bad decision-making with an inappropriate display of a partisan emblem at your workstation while previously assigned at the Los Angeles Field Office.

In accordance with Article II of the U.S. Constitution, and regulations of the United States, your job with the Federal Bureau of Investigation is concluded.”

Lawyer Statement

In comments issued this week, his attorney Kerrie Riggs remarked, “This administration’s unlawfully firing him is a component of a broader effort to remove public offices of workers that possess alternative perspectives, or are from marginalized groups, or those who speak out against prejudice.

This battle is not only for him, but involves protecting the entitlements and freedoms of every government worker.”

Agency Response

The bureau did not provide a statement about the legal action.

Related Legal Cases

The case comes after a separate case filed in September by previous senior FBI officials that claimed they had been wrongfully terminated.

They stated that the director claimed he was ordered by the administration to dismiss any employee associated with an inquiry regarding the former president.

Meanwhile, the agency dismissed a long-serving employee earlier this month after Patel reportedly became furious due to accounts that the FBI director had taken a federal plane to attend a match during which his partner rendered the national anthem.

The veteran, an agency staffer since 1998, was removed from leading the bureau’s emergency unit, responsible for significant risks and the bureau’s aircraft.