A group of current and former FBI employees say they were punished for speaking up — and now they’re calling on the bureau’s new director, Kash Patel, to finally review their cases.
In a letter sent this March, the organization Empower Oversight asked the FBI’s general counsel to step in and help resolve what it calls the improper treatment of whistleblowers. The letter names several individuals — including Garret O’Boyle, Marcus Allen, Stephen Friend, Zach Schofftsall, Monica Shillingburg, and Michael Zummer — who say they faced retaliation for raising internal concerns.
The letter also references four unnamed employees, one of whom reportedly has insight into activities involving former FBI official Peter Strzok — a key figure in several controversial investigations in recent years.
The Marcus Allen Case
One of the most high-profile cases involves Marcus Allen, a staff operations specialist in the FBI’s Charlotte Division. According to the letter, Allen had his security clearance revoked and was placed on indefinite unpaid leave after he questioned whether former Director Christopher Wray gave accurate testimony to Congress. His personal opinions on the COVID-19 vaccine were also reportedly scrutinized.
Though Allen eventually reached a settlement, Empower Oversight says the FBI hasn’t fully honored the agreement — pointing to unresolved issues like incorrect W2 tax forms and unpaid leave compensation.
New Hope with New Leadership
With Kash Patel now heading the FBI, whistleblowers and advocates hope for a fresh review of their cases — and some long-overdue accountability.
Empower Oversight says the agency must uphold whistleblower protections and ensure employees who speak up in good faith aren’t silenced or punished.
So far, the FBI has not publicly responded to the request for a new review.
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