FBI agent Strzok, who criticized Trump in text messages, is fired

[webfact]

FBI agent Strzok, who criticized Trump in text messages, is fired

By Sarah N. Lynch

 

FILE PHOTO: FBI Deputy Assistant Director Peter Strzok is seated prior to testifying before House Committees on the Judiciary and Oversight & Government Reform joint hearing on "Oversight of FBI and DOJ Actions Surrounding the 2016 Election” in Washington, U.S., July 12, 2018. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Peter Strzok, the FBI agent who came under fire by President Donald Trump and other Republicans for sending text messages that disparaged the candidate during the presidential campaign, was fired late Friday, his attorney said on Monday.

 

Strzok is the third high-ranking person to be fired from the FBI during the Trump administration, including former Director James Comey. During his FBI career, he rose to deputy assistant director, focussing on counterintelligence.

 

After Justice Department internal investigators found the texts, Strzok was reassigned from Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into the Trump campaign. The firing came after a lengthy internal investigation.

 

Strzok's attorney, Aitan Goelman, said in a statement that FBI Deputy Director David Bowdich made the decision to terminate his client.

 

The decision, Goelman added, was at odds with a recommendation by the FBI's Office of Professional Responsibility, which had called for Strzok to face a 60-day suspension and demotion from his supervisory responsibilities.

 

He also said it goes against promises that FBI Director Christopher Wray has made in the past about adhering to the proper processes on personnel matters.

 

A representative from the FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

 

Trump took to Twitter not long after the news broke on Monday.

 

"Agent Peter Strzok was just fired from the FBI-finally," wrote Trump, who had called for Strzok's ouster before.

 

"The list of bad players in the FBI & DOJ gets longer & longer."

 

A post under a newly created Twitter account under Strzok's name said he was "deeply saddened" by the decision to fire him.

 

The post also linked to a GoFundMe page, which had raised more than $48,700 towards a $150,000 goal as of late Monday.

 

"All funds raised on this GoFundMe will be put into a trust dedicated to covering Pete’s hefty – and growing – legal costs and his lost income," the fundraising website says.

 

Goelman said that his client's firing was politically motivated and that his texts represented political speech protected by the First Amendment.

 

In March, Attorney General Jeff Sessions fired FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe after a scathing report by the Justice Department's internal watchdog concluded he had leaked information to reporters and misled investigators about his actions.

 

Comey was fired by Trump in May 2017 after Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein helped write a memo that was critical of how Comey handled the FBI's probe into then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server for official business.

 

Later, however, Trump claimed he fired Comey over that "Russia thing," apparently referring to the FBI probe into whether his presidential campaign colluded with Russia. Trump has repeatedly denied any collusion and called the investigation a witch hunt.

 

Both Comey and McCabe said, however, they believe they were fired because they are key witnesses in Special Counsel Mueller's probe into whether Trump may have tried to obstruct the investigation.

 

Strzok was deeply involved in the FBI's Clinton email investigation and was temporarily assigned to Mueller's office. He was removed from that post after his texts came to light.

 

The texts were criticized by the Justice Department's inspector general in a recent report that examined the FBI's handling of the Clinton email probe. Republicans in Congress have repeatedly pointed to them as evidence the FBI is biased against Trump.

 

(Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe and Jonathan Oatis)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-08-14

 

[thaibeachlovers]

Long overdue. Well done deputy director for doing what his boss should have done.

While Strzok obviously never considered that his texts would have been uncovered ( because he was convinced HRC would win ), he was so obviously biased against Trump, he should never have been on any investigation about Trump. That he did not recuse himself shows, IMO, bad judgement, and sacking is probably the least of his problems now.

[simple1]

51 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Long overdue. Well done deputy director for doing what his boss should have done.

While Strzok obviously never considered that his texts would have been uncovered ( because he was convinced HRC would win ), he was so obviously biased against Trump, he should never have been on any investigation about Trump. That he did not recuse himself shows, IMO, bad judgement, and sacking is probably the least of his problems now.

There has been zero evidence that Strzok's dislike of Trump compromised his professionalism as a FBI investigator. The firing is another example of the Trump Administration's spitefulness and demeaning of the Justice system.

[thaibeachlovers]

19 minutes ago, simple1 said:

There has been zero evidence that Strzok's dislike of Trump compromised his professionalism as a FBI investigator. The firing is another example of the Trump Administration's spitefulness and demeaning of the Justice system.

My point wasn't about his competence, but about him not recusing himself when he had an overwhelming bias against Trump.

Sessions recused himself for less.

[Somtamnication]

Ridiculous. So now all law enforcement cannot have opinions? No evidence that any of this affected his JOB duties. Highly political, just like with MCcabe. (sp).

[thaibeachlovers]

13 minutes ago, Somtamnication said:

Ridiculous. So now all law enforcement cannot have opinions? No evidence that any of this affected his JOB duties. Highly political, just like with MCcabe. (sp).

Most law enforcement don't write to their girlfriends on line that they hate the subject of their investigation and how they want to "stop him".

Even Mueller thought it was too much and removed him from the investigation.

[Boon Mee]

What took so long is the only reaction that qualifies hearing this news. 

[Nyezhov]

20 minutes ago, Somtamnication said:

Ridiculous. So now all law enforcement cannot have opinions? No evidence that any of this affected his JOB duties. Highly political, just like with MCcabe. (sp).

Within 4 months an additional special prosecutor will be appointed and these FBI fascists will be indicted. Bet a beer at Hillary 1 on it.

 

Im old enough to remember FBI abuses under Hoover. Im old enough to remember the CIA and FBI scandals of the 70s. Guys like Angleton....men who thought their positions made them a law unto themselves.

 

What is sad is that folks let their hatred of Prez Trump obscure the deep institutional problems in the alphabet agencies. I remember a time when the press did more than just cheerlead for their favourite political position, like when they ferreted out real abuses and exposed them no matter whose ox was gored...

Edited August 14, 2018 by Nyezhov

[Emster23]

Seems he did his job professionally and without bias. BUT he was stupid to use an FBI phone to exercise his freedom  of speech rights.

Stupid.

I have warned friends do not use your work email accounts for personal emails. They have no right to privacy if it is company owned.  Same goes for texts.

I would prefer if FBI had announced he was fired for being so stupid.

[Chomper Higgot]

Strzok will now file in court and win.

 

Trump gains nothing but his actions and words once again speak to his intent wrt to the ongoing investigation.

 

Illiberals enjoy this distraction, but get your denial glasses on, Trump’s day of reckoning is coming.

 

The truth will (despite Trump’s best efforts) out.

[Get Real]

I guess he realizes he should have been following Omarosa´s lead. Bow to the higher power, and shut you mouth.

[simple1]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Most law enforcement don't write to their girlfriends on line that they hate the subject of their investigation and how they want to "stop him".

Even Mueller thought it was too much and removed him from the investigation.

Fired for using FBI IT for communicating with his G/F? The guy was previously admonished for this matter. Yet to see if it is published in FBI guidelines not to use their systems for personal texts, but surely not a dismissal offence. Firmly of the opinion Trump Admin is displaying usual vicious vindictiveness. With his constant public disputes with staff, trump is obviously incapable of running a government executive office, let alone the Presidency.

Edited August 14, 2018 by simple1

[Nyezhov]

14 minutes ago, Emster23 said:

Seems he did his job professionally and without bias. BUT he was stupid to use an FBI phone to exercise his freedom  of speech rights.

Stupid.

I have warned friends do not use your work email accounts for personal emails. They have no right to privacy if it is company owned.  Same goes for texts.

I would prefer if FBI had announced he was fired for being so stupid.

Read an article tonight from a retired field agent that said that his firing was deserved because he embarrassed the FBI.

 

As to stupid....If Strzok had texted like he did in connection with anyone who had been criminally charged, he would have been destroyed in a courtroom. FBI no likee when agents ruin a case. 

[Nyezhov]

3 minutes ago, simple1 said:

Fired for using FBI IT for communicating with his G/F? The guy was previously admonished for this matter. Yet to see if it is published in FBI guidelines not to use their systems for personal texts, but surely not a dismissal offence. Firmly of the opinion Trump Admin is displaying usual vicious vindictiveness. With his constant public disputes with staff, trump is obviously incapable of running a government executive office, let alone the Presidency.

Things are running just fine there, check our economy. But hey, YMMV.

Edited August 14, 2018 by Nyezhov

[simple1]

3 minutes ago, Nyezhov said:

Things are running just fine there, check our economy. But hey, YMMV.

Off topic. However, try fact checking

Edited August 14, 2018 by simple1

[smotherb]

1 hour ago, Boon Mee said:

What took so long is the only reaction that qualifies hearing this news. 

Due process maybe?

[JCauto]

3 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Long overdue. Well done deputy director for doing what his boss should have done.

While Strzok obviously never considered that his texts would have been uncovered ( because he was convinced HRC would win ), he was so obviously biased against Trump, he should never have been on any investigation about Trump. That he did not recuse himself shows, IMO, bad judgement, and sacking is probably the least of his problems now.

So is it your position that anyone holding strong political views should be removed from their government positions? Or that they should automatically recuse themselves from any work activities that involve people whom they dislike? Do you think this is a good policy? 

 

Good luck on implementing Law Enforcement with those guidelines. 

[JCauto]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

My point wasn't about his competence, but about him not recusing himself when he had an overwhelming bias against Trump.

Sessions recused himself for less.

No, no he did not. Sessions recused himself because he'd been involved in meeting the Russians during the events in question and then lied (oops, sorry, uh, mis-spoke, didn't recall, seemed to have forgotten...) about it under testimony to Congress. He did not recuse himself because he was biased for Trump. 

[smotherb]

1 hour ago, Nyezhov said:

Within 4 months an additional special prosecutor will be appointed and these FBI fascists will be indicted. Bet a beer at Hillary 1 on it.

 

Im old enough to remember FBI abuses under Hoover. Im old enough to remember the CIA and FBI scandals of the 70s. Guys like Angleton....men who thought their positions made them a law unto themselves.

 

What is sad is that folks let their hatred of Prez Trump obscure the deep institutional problems in the alphabet agencies. I remember a time when the press did more than just cheerlead for their favourite political position, like when they ferreted out real abuses and exposed them no matter whose ox was gored...

Are you so old, or so biased, that you do not realize how you even know of the abuses of power our government has endured? Our justice system has due process, our government has checks and balances; without them you would never have known about the abuses of the power in government. That is precisely why we need to continue with the Russian investigation; we deserve to know the  truth. And, if Hillary, Comey or Daffy Duck have committed crimes against us, investigate them; we owe it to the American people.

[JCauto]

1 hour ago, Nyezhov said:

Within 4 months an additional special prosecutor will be appointed and these FBI fascists will be indicted. Bet a beer at Hillary 1 on it.

 

Im old enough to remember FBI abuses under Hoover. Im old enough to remember the CIA and FBI scandals of the 70s. Guys like Angleton....men who thought their positions made them a law unto themselves.

 

What is sad is that folks let their hatred of Prez Trump obscure the deep institutional problems in the alphabet agencies. I remember a time when the press did more than just cheerlead for their favourite political position, like when they ferreted out real abuses and exposed them no matter whose ox was gored...

I've told you before - choose a different name when you're a Russian troll, you don't want to make it so obvious...

[sammieuk1]

Should have tweeted it then no one would have seen it?

[JCauto]

28 minutes ago, Nyezhov said:

Things are running just fine there, check our economy. But hey, YMMV.

I disagree, Russia's economy has some major structural issues and is dominated by oligarchs.

[Nyezhov]

12 minutes ago, smotherb said:

Are you so old, or so biased, that you do not realize how you even know of the abuses of power our government has endured? Our justice system has due process, our government has checks and balances; without them you would never have known about the abuses of the power in government. That is precisely why we need to continue with the Russian investigation; we deserve to know the  truth. And, if Hillary, Comey or Daffy Duck have committed crimes against us, investigate them; we owe it to the American people.

Good to see you agree with me.

[Nyezhov]

13 minutes ago, JCauto said:

I've told you before - choose a different name when you're a Russian troll, you don't want to make it so obvious...

Somehow calling someone you don't know a "Russian Troll" adds nothing to the discussion. Be that as it may, my posts speak for themselves. Das Vidayne, mein fruend, alors!

[thaibeachlovers]

16 minutes ago, JCauto said:

No, no he did not. Sessions recused himself because he'd been involved in meeting the Russians during the events in question and then lied (oops, sorry, uh, mis-spoke, didn't recall, seemed to have forgotten...) about it under testimony to Congress. He did not recuse himself because he was biased for Trump. 

As I understand it Sessions recused himself from a Russia investigation because of his Russia ties, nothing to do with bias for or against Trump, or lying.

 

Whatever you or I think, Mueller thought it so bad he removed Strzok from his team because of the overt bias revealed in the texts.

[JCauto]

Just now, thaibeachlovers said:

As I understand it Sessions recused himself from a Russia investigation because of his Russia ties, nothing to do with bias for or against Trump, or lying.

 

Whatever you or I think, Mueller thought it so bad he removed Strzok from his team because of the overt bias revealed in the texts.

So your first sentence basically is in agreement with my point. 

The reason Mueller removed Strzok is that he knows those desperately defending the President would use it as a continuous distraction to the investigation so he got rid of it before Trumpeters could turn it into a constant drone in the news cycle. Which of course you're still trying to do. But sorry, it's one investigator out of hundreds, and the weight of evidence is such that this straw man will be well revealed for what it is in due course.

[lanista]

With a name like Strzok he deserves to be fired.

Why do Americans always seem to have these unpronouncable <deleted> names.

Why dont they employ people called Smith, Williams or Jones.

It would make life alot easier.

[Tug]

It’s just Donald doing his best to corrupt our judicial system and rigg the courts in his favor just like he and his buddy Putin did to get him elected.look Donald is the kind of guy that believes the end result justifies the means as long as he wins all is fair in his swampy world let’s hope the system holds up and he is exposed as the criminal he is

[Nyezhov]

Just now, lanista said:

With a name like Strzok he deserves to be fired.

Why do Americans always seem to have these unpronouncable <deleted> names.

Why dont they employ people called Smith, Williams or Jones.

It would make life alot easier.

Thats what happens when ya take in the tired and poor and huddled masses et al. Ya gots your Bohemians, Moravians, Czech, Poles,  Magyars, Canadians, Germans, Jews, Espanolers of all varieties, leavened by a heap of Irish, Scots and Italians. That means you can get a guy named Vito O'Reilly, or Brigit Liebowitz-Martinez, or Hans William Wojeczechowcz, or even my personal fav...Samoots "Sammy" Amantuna

[thaibeachlovers]

21 minutes ago, smotherb said:

Are you so old, or so biased, that you do not realize how you even know of the abuses of power our government has endured? Our justice system has due process, our government has checks and balances; without them you would never have known about the abuses of the power in government. That is precisely why we need to continue with the Russian investigation; we deserve to know the  truth. And, if Hillary, Comey or Daffy Duck have committed crimes against us, investigate them; we owe it to the American people.

Many were exposed by pure luck. Had Nixon's men been better at it, no one would have found out about Watergate, or the tapes etc etc.

Seems the US "intelligence services" are pretty incompetent, especially when they can't even stop foreign interference in elections, despite all their computers and the billions spent on them. Apparently, a few hackers in a basement somewhere are better than them.

 

If I were an American taxpayer, I'd want to know why an investigation costing millions and lasting over a year, has not produced a single conviction for collusion with the Russians over the last election.

 

Meanwhile, back with the OP, IMO Strzok deserved to be sacked if only for the obvious contempt with which he regarded the congressional committee that questioned him.