Case: Schnitt v. Bondi

1:25-cv-04111 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: Nov. 24, 2025

Case Ongoing

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Case Summary

This case arises out of the termination of Joseph H. Schnitt III, former Acting Deputy Chief of the Department of Justice's Special Operation Unit. The plaintiff alleged that on September 5, 2025, the government arbitrarily fired him. Accordingly, he brought suit against Pamela Bondi, in her official capacity, the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the United States of America, in the D.C. District Court. Judge Christopher R. Cooper was assigned to this case. The plaintiff alleges that what he th…

The plaintiff alleges that what he thought was an innocent hinge date turned out to be an undercover investigation by the O'Keefe Media Group. The reporte captured a video showing the plaintiff making several remarks about the Epstein investigation. Notably, the video captured the plaintiff commenting that the Government would redact names of prominent Republicans while leaving unredacted names of prominent Democrats.

Following the publication of the video, the DOJ posted a tweet containing a message the plaintiff sent to his supervisor regarding the event with no additional information. The next day, Attorney General Bondi issued a termination letter to the plaintiff.

In response, the plaintiff, represented by Mark S. Zaid, brought this suit under the Administrative Procedures Act (APA), the Privacy Act and the Declaratory Judgement Act. He alleged that the government exceeded its statutory authority by terminating him, violated his privacy rights by tweeting a work email, and violated his right to protected speech without fear of retribution. To remediate these harms, he requested a declaration that his termination was unlawful, backpay, monetary compensation, reasonable attorney fees, and a writ of mandamus commanding the government to return him to his position.

This case is ongoing.

Summary Authors

Jinan Abufarha (12/7/2025)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71952354/parties/schnitt-v-bondi/

Attorney for Plaintiff

Zaid, Mark Steven (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Zaid, Mark Steven (District of Columbia)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case

1 1:25-cv-04111	Complaint	Nov. 24, 2025	Nov. 24, 2025 Complaint

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71952354/schnitt-v-bondi/

Last updated Sept. 29, 2026, 3:54 a.m.

Docket for: SCHNITT v. BONDI

ECF Number	Date	Description	Link
1	Nov. 24, 2025	COMPLAINT against JOSEPH H SCHNITT with Jury Demand ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-12096244) filed by JOSEPH H SCHNITT. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons Summons - Bondi, # 3 Summons Summons - DOJ, # 4 Summons Summons - USAO DC)(Zaid, Mark) (Entered: 11/24/2025) 1 Civil Cover Sheet Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER 2 Summons Summons - Bondi View on PACER 3 Summons Summons - DOJ View on PACER 4 Summons Summons - USAO DC View on PACER	Clearinghouse
2	Nov. 24, 2025	SEALED DOCUMENT filed by JOSEPH H SCHNITT(This document is SEALED and only available to authorized persons.)(Zaid, Mark) (Entered: 11/24/2025)	RECAP
3	Nov. 25, 2025	SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to All Defendants, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(znmw) (Entered: 11/25/2025) 1 Notice and Consent View on RECAP	RECAP
	Nov. 25, 2025	Case Assigned/Reassigned
	Nov. 25, 2025	Case Assigned to Judge Christopher R. Cooper. (znmw)
4	Dec. 5, 2025	RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 11/25/2025. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 1/24/2026. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1 - Proof of Service USAO DC)(Zaid, Mark) (Entered: 12/05/2025) 1 Exhibit 1 - Proof of Service USAO DC View on RECAP	RECAP
5	Jan. 27, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by Bradley Prescott Moss on behalf of JOSEPH H. SCHNITT, III (Moss, Bradley) (Entered: 01/27/2026)	RECAP
6	Jan. 28, 2026	MOTION for Extension of Time to File Responsive Pleading Nunc Pro Tunc by PAMELA J. BONDI, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. (Graham-Oliver, Heather) (Entered: 01/28/2026)	RECAP
	Jan. 30, 2026	MINUTE ORDER granting Defendants' 6 Motion for an Extension of Time. Defendants shall file an Answer or otherwise respond to the Complaint by February 25, 2026. The parties are directed to appear at a video status conference on February 4, 2026 at 11:00 AM before Judge Christopher R. Cooper. Zoom information will be forthcoming. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 1/30/2026. (lccrc1)
	Jan. 30, 2026	Order on Motion for Extension of Time to AND Set/Reset Hearings
7	Feb. 4, 2026	NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Benjamin H. Zieman on behalf of All Defendants Substituting for attorney Heather Graham-Oliver (Zieman, Benjamin) (Entered: 02/04/2026)	RECAP
	Feb. 4, 2026	Status Conference
	Feb. 4, 2026	Minute Entry for video proceedings held before Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan: Status Conference held on 2/4/2026. (Court Reporter: Lisa Moreira) (lsj)
8	Feb. 12, 2026	NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by William S. Jankowski on behalf of All Defendants Substituting for attorney Benjamin H. Zieman (Jankowski, William) (Entered: 02/12/2026)	RECAP
9	Feb. 25, 2026	MOTION to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction, MOTION to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim by PAMELA J. BONDI, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Jankowski, William) (Entered: 02/25/2026) 1 Memorandum in Support View on PACER 2 Text of Proposed Order View on PACER	RECAP
10	March 6, 2026	Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply as to 9 MOTION to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction by JOSEPH H. SCHNITT, III. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Proposed Order)(Zaid, Mark) (Entered: 03/06/2026)	RECAP
	March 9, 2026	Order on Motion for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply
	March 9, 2026	MINUTE ORDER granting Plaintiff's 10 Motion for an Extension of Time. Plaintiff is directed to respond to Defendants' 9 Motion to Dismiss by April 2, 2026. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 3/9/2026. (lccrc1)
11	April 2, 2026	Memorandum in opposition to re 9 MOTION to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction filed by JOSEPH H. SCHNITT, III. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Zaid, Mark) (Entered: 04/02/2026) 1 Text of Proposed Order View on RECAP	RECAP
12	April 7, 2026	Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply as to 9 MOTION to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction to April 23, 2026 by PAMELA J. BONDI, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Jankowski, William) (Entered: 04/07/2026)	RECAP
	April 8, 2026	Order on Motion for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply
	April 8, 2026	MINUTE ORDER granting Defendants' 12 Motion for an Extension of Time. Defendants shall file a reply in support of their 9 Motion to Dismiss by April 23, 2026. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 4/8/2026. (lccrc1)
13	April 17, 2026	NOTICE of Filing of Relevant District Court Decision by JOSEPH H. SCHNITT, III re 11 Memorandum in Opposition (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1 - Comans EDVA Decision)(Zaid, Mark) (Entered: 04/17/2026) 1 Exhibit 1 - Comans EDVA Decision View on PACER	RECAP
14	April 23, 2026	REPLY to opposition to motion re 9 Motion to Dismiss/Lack of Jurisdiction, filed by PAMELA J. BONDI, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. (Jankowski, William) (Entered: 04/23/2026)	RECAP
15	April 28, 2026	NOTICE of Filing of Relevant District Court Decision by JOSEPH H. SCHNITT, III re 11 Memorandum in Opposition (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1 - SDNY Comey Decision)(Zaid, Mark) (Entered: 04/28/2026) 1 Exhibit 1 - SDNY Comey Decision View on PACER	RECAP
16	July 29, 2026	NOTICE OF SUPPLEMENTAL AUTHORITY by JOSEPH H. SCHNITT, III (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1 - Comans EDVA Decision (7.21.26), # 2 Exhibit 2 - Fed News Article, # 3 Exhibit 3 - About MSPB (June 2026), # 4 Exhibit 4 - About MSPB (July 30, 2026))(Zaid, Mark) (Entered: 07/29/2026) 1 Exhibit 1 - Comans EDVA Decision (7.21.26) View on PACER 2 Exhibit 2 - Fed News Article View on PACER 3 Exhibit 3 - About MSPB (June 2026) View on PACER 4 Exhibit 4 - About MSPB (July 30, 2026) View on PACER	RECAP
	Aug. 25, 2026	Order Setting Hearing on Motion AND ~Util - Set/Reset Deadlines
	Aug. 25, 2026	MINUTE ORDER: The parties are directed to appear for a hearing on Defendants' 9 Motion to Dismiss on September 16, 2026 at 11:00 AM in Courtroom 27A (in person) before Judge Christopher R. Cooper. In advance of the hearing, Plaintiff is invited to file a supplemental brief, not to exceed 10 pages, addressing the following questions: (1) whether Plaintiff forfeited any argument that his termination is not covered by the Civil Service Reform Act ("CSRA"), and therefore his claims are not subject to channeling to the Merit Systems Protection Board, by failing to raise them in his complaint or opposition to Defendants' motion to dismiss, see Defendants' 14 Reply at 21; see also Margolin v. NAIJ, 146 S. Ct. 1285, 1288 (2026); and (2) notwithstanding forfeiture, whether he contends that the termination decision here is, in fact, a covered action under the CSRA, as his briefing appears to assume. If Plaintiff believes instead that the termination was not a CSRA-covered action, he should address whether the termination decision's reliance on both Article II and Plaintiff's "publicly inappropriate comments that were detrimental to the interests of the Department," Compl. ¶ 28, distinguishes the present decision from that in Comey v. DOJ, No. 25-cv-7625 (JMF), 2026 WL 1142679 (S.D.N.Y. Apr. 28, 2026). Plaintiff shall file any supplemental brief by September 8, 2026. Defendants shall file any response, also not to exceed 10 pages, by September 14, 2026. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 8/25/2026. (lccrc1)
17	Aug. 26, 2026	Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Supplemental Briefs, Consent MOTION to Continue Hearing on Defendants' Motion to Dismiss by PAMELA J. BONDI, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Jankowski, William) (Entered: 08/26/2026) 1 Text of Proposed Order View on PACER	RECAP
	Aug. 27, 2026	MINUTE ORDER: In light of Defendants' 17 Consent Motion for an Extension of Briefing Deadlines and Continuance of Hearing, the parties are directed to appear at a virtual status conference on August 27, 2026 at 4:30 PM before Judge Christopher R. Cooper. Zoom information will be forthcoming. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 8/27/2026. (lccrc1)
	Aug. 27, 2026	Scheduling Order
	Aug. 27, 2026	Status Conference
	Aug. 27, 2026	Minute Entry for video Status Conference held before Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 8/27/2026. Plaintiff shall file their Motion for Leave to File an Amended Complaint and the Defendant shall respond in 7 days. (Court Reporter: Lisa Moreira) (lsj)
	Sept. 2, 2026	.Order AND ~Util - Set/Reset Deadlines
	Sept. 2, 2026	MINUTE ORDER: The Court hereby clarifies its Minute Entry from August 27, 2026. As discussed at the virtual status conference held on August 27, 2026, Plaintiff shall file a Motion for Leave to File an Amended Complaint. Plaintiff is hereby directed to file that motion by September 9, 2026. Defendants shall file any response to Plaintiff's motion by September 16, 2026. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 9/2/2026. (lccrc1)
18	Sept. 8, 2026	Leave to File Document	RECAP
	Sept. 9, 2026	Order on Motion for Extension of Time to File AND Order on Motion for Leave to File AND Order on Motion to Continue AND Order on Motion to Dismiss/Lack of Jurisdiction AND Terminate Deadlines
	Sept. 9, 2026	MINUTE ORDER: Plaintiff's 18 Unopposed Motion for Leave to File First Amended Complaint is granted. Defendants' 9 Motion to Dismiss is denied as moot. The motion to dismiss hearing previously scheduled for September 16, 2026 and briefing schedule set by the Court's August 25, 2026 Minute Order are hereby vacated. Defendants' 17 Consent Motion for an Extension of Briefing Deadlines and Continuance of Hearing is hereby denied as moot. The Court expresses no views on the viability of the First Amended Complaint. The Clerk of the Court is directed to docket the First Amended Complaint (ECF No. 18-4) as a new docket entry to reflect the operative complaint. Defendants shall file an Answer or otherwise respond to the First Amended Complaint by October 8, 2026. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 9/9/2026. (lccrc1)
19	Sept. 15, 2026	Amended Complaint 1 Redline View on PACER	RECAP