Messages of support from thirty former FBI agents defend suspended whistleblower Steve Friend, who alleged political bias at the agency over its handling of the Jan. 6 Capitol breach probe.

Among the former agents expressing support for Friend include a retired deputy assistant director and five former SWAT team members, according to the New York Post.

Friend alleged in a declaration made public on Sept. 26 that the FBI has been using heavy-handed tactics with respect to some Jan. 6 Capitol breach suspects, citing a case where a SWAT team was used to make an arrest on misdemeanor charges, which he called “inappropriate.”

The whistleblower also accused the agency of violating the Justice Department’s guidelines for the FBI’s domestic investigations (pdf) by resorting to “atypical” procedures in the handling of Jan. 6 probes.