The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) terminated FBI agent Peter Strzok over anti-Trump text messages he transmitted to his FBI mistress Lisa Page, according to a statement by Strzok’s lawyer Aitan Goelman.
Strzok, who led the FBI’s investigation into Russian election meddling and was deeply involved with the Bureau’s look into Hillary’s illegal use of a private email server, was fired Friday by order of FBI Deputy Director David Bowdich, Goelman confirmed.
Goelman called his client’s firing “troubling” and “political.”
“This decision should be deeply troubling to all Americans,” Goelman said in a statement Monday. Goelman accused Bowdich of bowing to political pressure and said the firing was not based “on a fair and independent examination of the facts.”
Strzok had been long criticized for apparent bias and actively trying to manipulate the 2016 election by going easy on Clinton and tough on Trump.
In one set of texts with his former lover, Lisa Page, Strzok said that Trump would not get elected because they would “stop it” from happening. The pair’s bias became evident in a slew of released texts that had been transmitted and received on their FBI-issued cell phones.
Strzok’s lawyer also blasted FBI Director Christopher Wray, saying that his client’s firing contradicted Wray’s testimony to Congress.
“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.”
Mr. Strzok later tweeted his disappointment with the Bureau’s decision.
Deeply saddened by this decision. It has been an honor to serve my country and work with the fine men and women of the FBI. https://t.co/iET9SbeTrv pic.twitter.com/7VTswzjoxE
— @PeteStrzok@mastodon.social (@petestrzok) August 13, 2018
This is a breaking story and may be updated as events warrant.
