Name: Veteran FBI employee claims he was fired for displaying Pride flag
Uploaded: 2025-11-20T01:41:27.000Z
Duration: 2 min 5 s
Description: A 16-year FBI employee has filed a lawsuit alleging he was fired last month because he had a Pride flag draped near his desk.

A 16-year FBI employee has filed a lawsuit alleging he was fired last month because he had a Pride flag draped near his desk.

Los Angeles

David Maltinsky, a former FBI employee with 16 years of service, has filed a lawsuit against the Justice Department, the Attorney General, and the FBI Director after being dismissed from his position. Maltinsky claims he was fired for displaying a Pride flag at his workstation, which he says was given to him by the FBI after it flew outside the Los Angeles field office. The FBI stated the termination was due to an inappropriate display of political signage.

Maltinsky, who is gay, alleges that management targeted certain agents and that his firing has had a chilling effect on LGBTQIA representation within the bureau. He is seeking reinstatement, arguing that his dismissal amounts to discrimination. The FBI declined to comment on the ongoing lawsuit.

Veteran FBI employee claims he was fired for displaying Pride flag

A former FBI employee today sued the Justice Department, the Attorney General and FBI Director, hoping to get his job back. He claims his long career ended abruptly over a flag he displayed at his workstation. Scott McFarlane has our exclusive interview tonight. After 16 years inside the FBI's Los Angeles field office, David Maltinsky was just weeks away from a promotion to becoming a special agent. Last month, he was escorted into a meeting and fired. Were you surprised when you got the word you were to leave? I wasn't surprised. I was definitely disappointed. I knew, not truly firsthand, but I knew I was on a list. Maltinsky, who is gay, alleged there was a list of agents management was targeting. After years of service with commendations, the bureau told Maltinsky he was let go because of an inappropriate display of political signage in his work area. This is what he had displayed, a pride flag, which had been presented to him by the FBI after it flew outside the FBI's L.A. field office. I don't know what their goal was, but if it was to send a chilling effect throughout the men and women at the FBI, it was effective. Many gay colleagues have removed pride flags from their desks. Horrified by the Pulse nightclub shooting in 2016, Maltinsky helped support the bureau's diversity initiatives and was honored for it. The Trump administration has targeted efforts to ensure diversity in its workforce. FBI Director Kash Patel has testified staff would not be fired over politics. The only actions we take, generally speaking, for personality at the FBI are ones based on merit and qualification and your ability to uphold your constitutional duty. You fall short, you don't work there anymore. In his lawsuit, Maltinsky argues his firing amounts to discrimination and wants his job back. We're not the enemy. We're not some political mob. We're proud members of the FBI, and we have a mission to do. The FBI told CBS News it wouldn't comment on Maltinsky's lawsuit. Scott McFarlane, CBS News, Washington.

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