FBI Agent Says Refusing Biden Administration’s Agenda Cost Him His Career

Former FBI agent Zach Schoffstall says his refusal to comply with a push to target so-called domestic extremism led to the end of his career. Schoffstall, previously a senior agent in the FBI’s Salt Lake City Division, revealed that his resistance to carrying out what he saw as politically motivated directives put him at odds with his superiors.

Schoffstall described a 2022 incident involving the Patriot Front, a group accused of conspiracy to riot at a Pride event in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. The event had sparked outrage after revelations that drag performers and the local Satanic Temple chapter were involved, while Christian pastors were removed for alleged trespassing. Despite pressures from the Department of Justice (DOJ) and FBI leadership, Schoffstall refused to execute a federal search warrant against the group, citing a lack of evidence of violent intent.

“I had been told I brought embarrassment to the bureau because of all the pressure that DOJ placed on the bureau to get that warrant,” Schoffstall told the Daily Caller. After his refusal, he was reassigned to a less prominent role in West Virginia and ultimately dismissed in 2024, despite receiving positive performance reviews.

The Patriot Front case was eventually transferred to a Boise-based FBI supervisor. Schoffstall alleges political and personal agendas influenced decisions, pointing to connections between key officials and the LGBTQ movement. He claimed the U.S. Attorney for the District of Idaho, Josh Hurwit, prioritized aligning with the Biden administration over pursuing genuine criminal investigations.

Schoffstall also recounted bringing two hate crime cases to Hurwit’s office involving racially charged assaults. Both were declined for prosecution. Instead, Hurwit reportedly focused on hosting conferences and events as part of the DOJ’s “United Against Hate” initiative, launched in 2022.

Schoffstall believes the Patriot Front case became a performative effort by the DOJ to appear tough on hate crimes. Despite arrests, most defendants faced minor punishments, with some receiving only brief jail time or fines. “I think the facts would indicate they wanted to make the appearance they were leaning heavily into this,” Schoffstall said.

His story highlights growing concerns about politicization within federal agencies and raises questions about the balance between enforcing laws and serving political agendas.