FBI Agent Plans to Turn In Badge After Her Harassment Complaint

An FBI agent who contends that her career has been ruined because she publicly accused a superior of assault and sexual harassment declared Monday that she is turning in her badge.

Suzane J. Doucette, 39, said at a news conference that she was taking the action because the FBI had placed her on unpaid leave. Doucette argued that she was the victim of retaliation because she had made her allegations public in congressional testimony last spring.

“This is a very sad day,” she said, adding that she is not resigning but considers herself “constructively discharged” because she was placed on unpaid leave.

“I must get a new job to pay my bills,” she said.

Doucette, 39, said her ultimate goal is to win a federal lawsuit she had filed against the FBI and be reinstated with back pay. She joined the bureau in 1984.

Doucette, who has been working in Tucson, said the FBI has a long history of sexual and racial discrimination, but employees remain silent because they fear retaliation.

She said she decided to speak out because of the support of her family, including her husband, also an FBI agent.

Doucette said superiors gave no reason why she was first placed on paid leave and then 10 days ago suspended without pay. But she said she is convinced that it is in retaliation for her May 26 testimony before the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee.

The FBI declined to comment on the grounds that the case is pending in the courts. Recently, the bureau said it is making progress against gender-based bias and sexual harassment.

In an earlier lawsuit and in congressional testimony, Doucette said that in December, 1988, an FBI superior--unidentified at the time--placed a chokehold on her and touched her “in ways that are very sensitive.”

Doucette said she suffered on-the-job harassment and retaliation for complaining to FBI authorities.

The official later was identified in published reports as Herbert H. Hawkins Jr., former FBI special agent in charge in Arizona and now retired. Hawkins has denied the charges and said he never touched Doucette in an offensive manner.