FBI agent Peter Strzok was fired over texts he sent that demonstrated a political bias against Donald Trump while he was working on the investigation of Trump campaign ties to Russian election interference. The termination was ordered on Friday, according to the Washington Post, despite a decision that he only face a demotion and suspension.
Strzok’s attorney, Aitan Goelman, complained about the decision, saying that the FBI official who normally handles such matters decided on a 60-day suspension for Strzok and a lower position. Nevertheless, Deputy Director David L. Bowdich decided to fire Strzok anyway.
“The decision to fire Special Agent Strzok is not only a departure from typical Bureau practice, but also contradicts Director Wray’s testimony to Congress and his assurances that the FBI intended to follow its regular process in this and all personnel matters,” Goelman told MSNBC. He claimed, “the decision to terminate was taken in response to political pressure.”
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BREAKING: FBI has fired veteran agent Peter Strzok, Strzok’s lawyer says in a statement to @CNBC, and alleges that "the decision to terminate was taken in response to political pressure."
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Strzok’s lawyer: "The decision to fire Special Agent Strzok is not only a departure from typical Bureau practice, but also contradicts Director Wray’s testimony to Congress and his assurances that the FBI intended to follow its regular process in this and all personnel matters."
11:17 AM - Aug 13, 2018
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Law&Crime reached out to Goelman for additional comment.
Strzok’s firing came after a Justice Department Inspector General’s report on the FBI’s handling of matters surrounding the 2016 election, particularly the Hillary Clinton email investigation, that Strzok worked on. Text messages between him and FBI lawyer Lisa Page, with whom Strzok had an affair, showed that the pair expressed anti-Trump sentiment and a favorable position towards Clinton. Strzok also worked on the investigation of the Trump campaign, but when Special Counsel Robert Mueller learned of the texts, he dismissed Strzok from the probe.
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