Results 1 to 18 of 18

Thread: FBI fires Peter Strzok in wake of anti-Trump text messages 8/13/18

  1. #1

    FBI fires Peter Strzok in wake of anti-Trump text messages 8/13/18

    The FBI has fired a longtime agent who once worked on special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation over text messages criticizing President Donald Trump.

    Former agent Peter Strzok was removed from Mueller's team a year ago after the text messages were first discovered, and the FBI had been reviewing his employment. Strzok's lawyer said he was fired late Friday by FBI Deputy Director David Bowdich.

    The lawyer, Aitan Goelman, criticized the firing in a statement Monday, saying he was removed because of political pressure and "to punish Special Agent Strzok for political speech protected by the First Amendment." He said the firing "should be deeply troubling to all Americans."

    Goelman said that the FBI had overruled the FBI's Office of Professional Responsibility, which he said had determined that a 60-day suspension and demotion from supervisory duties was "the appropriate punishment."

    The FBI did not have immediate comment.
    https://www.fourstateshomepage.com/n...ges/1365532410



  2. Remove this section of ads by registering.
  3. #2
    What took them so long?
    Last edited by timosman; 08-13-2018 at 11:46 AM.

  4. #3
    Quote Originally Posted by timosman View Post
    What took you so long?
    ???

  5. #4

    FBI agent Peter Strzok fired over anti-Trump texts

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/world...689_story.html

    August 13, 2018

    The FBI has fired agent Peter Strzok, who helped lead the bureau’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election until officials discovered he had been sending anti-Trump texts.

    Aitan Goelman, Strzok’s lawyer, said FBI Deputy Director David L. Bowdich ordered the firing on Friday — even though the director of the FBI office that normally handles employee discipline had decided Strzok should face only a demotion and 60-day suspension. Goelman said the move undercuts the FBI’s repeated assurances that Strzok would be afforded the normal disciplinary process.

    “This isn’t the normal process in any way more than name,” Goelman said, adding in a statement, “This decision should be deeply troubling to all Americans.”

    The FBI declined to comment.

    The termination marks a remarkable downfall for Strzok, a 22-year veteran of the bureau who investigated Russian spies, defense officials accused of selling secrets to China and myriad other important cases. In the twilight of his career, Strzok was integral to two of the bureau’s most high-profile investigations: the Russia case; and the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server while she was secretary of state.

    But when a Justice Department inspector general investigation uncovered politically charged messages that Strzok had exchanged with another FBI official, he was relegated to a position in human resources. Conservatives soon made Strzok the face of their attacks against the special counsel investigation into the president’s campaign, and the FBI took steps to remove Strzok from its ranks.


    President Trump on Monday used Strzok’s firing to suggest the Russia investigation should be dropped, and the Clinton case redone.

    “Agent Peter Strzok was just fired from the FBI - finally. The list of bad players in the FBI & DOJ gets longer & longer. Based on the fact that Strzok was in charge of the Witch Hunt, will it be dropped? It is a total Hoax. No Collusion, No Obstruction - I just fight back!” he wrote.

    Minutes later, he added, “Just fired Agent Strzok, formerly of the FBI, was in charge of the Crooked Hillary Clinton sham investigation. It was a total fraud on the American public and should be properly redone!”

    On Monday, Strzok’s team launched a GoFundMe page with a lengthy statement to raise money for his “legal costs and lost income,” and said on the site that his firing was “apparently driven by political pressure.” Because Strzok is a senior-level FBI employee, and because the FBI’s No. 2 official directed his firing, he has few realistic avenues left to get back his job. It’s unclear if he plans to pursue legal action against the bureau.

    Strzok’s position in the bureau had been precarious since last summer, when the Department of Justice’s inspector general, Michael E. Horowitz, told special counsel Robert S. Mueller III that the lead agent on his team had been exchanging anti-Trump messages with an FBI lawyer. The next day, Mueller expelled Strzok from the group.

    The lawyer, Lisa Page, had also been a part of Mueller’s team, though she left a few weeks earlier and no longer works for the FBI. She and Strzok were having an affair.

    Trump has previously derided the pair as “FBI lovers,” and he and his conservative allies have pointed to their conduct in an attempt to discredit the Mueller probe. On Saturday, before the firing was known publicly, Trump tweeted an attack on Strzok, Page and former FBI director James B. Comey and deputy director Andrew McCabe.

    “Will the FBI ever recover it’s once stellar reputation, so badly damaged by Comey, McCabe, Peter S and his lover, the lovely Lisa Page, and other top officials now dismissed or fired?” Trump wrote on Twitter. “So many of the great men and women of the FBI have been hurt by these clowns and losers!”

    Conservatives in Congress on Monday tweeted support for Strzok’s removal.

    “It’s about time,” Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) wrote.

    Horowitz concluded that Strzok showed a “willingness to take official action” to hurt Trump’s electoral prospects, particularly in a text he sent telling Page “we’ll stop” Trump from being president.

    Strzok, who was a deputy assistant director for counterintelligence at the bureau, has apologized for sending the messages and said they reflected personal views that did not affect his work. His lawyer has said that had Strzok wanted to prevent Trump’s election, he could have leaked that Trump’s campaign was under investigation for possibly coordinating with Russia — a revelation that might have upended his bid to become president.

    At a congressional hearing earlier this month, Strzok sparred with Republican lawmakers who raised questions about his character and even his marriage. He asserted there was “no evidence of bias in my professional actions” and that his having to testify was “just another victory notch in [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s belt and another milestone in our enemies’ campaign to tear America apart.”

    Strzok was escorted out of the FBI building in June and effectively relieved of work responsibilities, though he technically remained an FBI employee as he and his attorney challenged the effort to dismiss him. On July 24, they made a final pitch to Candice M. Will, who leads the FBI’s Office of Professional Responsibility.

    Goelman said Will ultimately decided that Strzok should face a demotion and 60-day suspension and be subjected to a “last chance agreement.” That would have put him on thin ice if he were to commit another offense. But Goelman said Bowdich overruled that decision and ordered Strzok’s termination.

    During a June congressional hearing, FBI Director Christopher A. Wray said Strzok had been referred to the Office of Professional Responsibility — which he referred to as the bureau’s “independent disciplinary arm” — and that officials would “not hesitate to hold people strictly accountable.” Wray promised that process would be “done by the book.”

    Strzok is the third high-ranking FBI official involved in the Clinton and Russia investigations to be fired amid an intensely political backdrop. Trump removed Comey as the bureau’s director and said he did so thinking of the Russia case. Attorney General Jeff Sessions later removed Comey’s deputy, McCabe, after the inspector general alleged he lied about a media disclosure related to Clinton.

    McCabe — who, unlike Comey, could not be removed at the will of the president — has said his termination was a politically motivated attempt to undermine the Mueller probe. He is currently facing a criminal investigation by prosecutors in the District of Columbia’s U.S. Attorney’s Office.

    It is possible that others could yet face discipline. The inspector general identified five FBI employees, including Strzok and Page, with some connection to the Clinton email case who had exchanged messages expressing hostility toward Trump, support for Clinton or other political views. Each was referred to the FBI for possible violations of the bureau’s code of conduct.

    The inspector general’s office said it found no evidence “to connect the political views expressed in these messages to the specific investigative decisions” in the Clinton case. Its report singled out Strzok, though, for prioritizing the Russia investigation in October 2016 instead of following up on a Clinton-related lead. Strzok’s lawyer has disputed that Strzok failed to pursue the Clinton lead aggressively.


  6. #5
    Jan2017
    Member

    WaPo reports his defense argued he should just have been suspended for 60 days.

    The Washington Post
    August 13 at 3:05 PM
    FBI agent Peter Strzok fired over anti-Trump texts

    FBI agent Peter Strzok was fired over his politically charged texts, becoming
    the third FBI official involved in the Clinton and Russia probes to be fired.(Jenny Starrs /The Washington Post)

    Aitan Goelman, Strzok’s lawyer, said FBI Deputy Director David L. Bowdich ordered the firing on Friday — even though the director of the FBI office that normally handles employee discipline had decided Strzok should face only a demotion and 60-day suspension.

    Goelman said the move undercuts the FBI’s repeated assurances that Strzok would be afforded the normal disciplinary process.

    “This isn’t the normal process in any way more than name,” Goelman said, adding in a statement,
    “This decision should be deeply troubling to all Americans.”
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/world...=.919283b6fed8
    Last edited by Jan2017; 08-13-2018 at 01:15 PM.

  7. #6
    Why the firing of Peter Strzok changes the Russia investigation less than you think - https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/13/polit...d-trump-fired/

  8. #7
    There's a gofundme set up for him... and people have donated.
    Peter Strzok Tweets Link To $150,000 GoFundMe For "Lost Income And Legal Fees"
    Mon, 08/13/2018 - 15:50

    Just-fired FBI agent Peter Strzok hopped on Twitter Monday with a statement from his lawyer and a link to a GoFundMe account set up by the "Friends Of Special Agent Peter Strzok," which has already raised just under $30,000 in three hours after more than 700 people donated to the fundraiser. Jennifer Kay, a spokeswoman for Strzok's attorney, confirmed that the Twitter account was authentic according to the Daily Caller.

    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://www.gofundme.com/peterstrzok
    The page reads:

    For the last year, Pete, his work, and his character have been the target of highly politicized attacks, including frequent slanderous statements from President Trump, who actively—and apparently successfully—pressured FBI officials to fire Pete.

    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 trust is being created and details about its management will be shared here as things progress

    Given that Strzok's wife Melissa Hodgman is an Associate Director in the SEC's enforcement division (with a $250,000 annual salary to boot), the following disclaimer at the bottom of the GoFundMe page comes as no surprise:

    *Please note: Due to federal ethics regulations as applied to the Securities and Exchange Commission (“agency”), any donation whose source cannot be determined or which falls into one of the categories below may be returned. Any aggregate donation of $390 or more will be publicly disclosed. We cannot accept donations from any “prohibited source” as defined by federal ethics rules that apply to the agency...

    more: https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-...and-legal-fees

  9. #8
    Quote Originally Posted by Valli6 View Post
    There's a gofundme set up for him... and people have donated.
    He'll easily get it. He's one of those few kinda cops that Dems copsuck on.



  10. Remove this section of ads by registering.
  11. #9
    Upon being fired, he tweet/fired off an angry hypoerbole filled opine,
    And again garnered plenty of headlines and press coverage. WIN/WIN?
    Trump looks like he did something, and the FBI guy gets a book deal?

  12. #10
    The MAGA smiles at his firing, yet frowns upon his possible book deal.

    This is the dual nature of the MAGA.
    1. Don't lie.
    2. Don't cheat.
    3. Don't steal.
    4. Don't kill.
    5. Don't commit adultery.
    6. Don't covet what your neighbor has, especially his wife.
    7. Honor your father and mother.
    8. Remember the Sabbath and keep it Holy.
    9. Don’t use your Higher Power's name in vain, or anyone else's.
    10. Do unto others as you would have them do to you.

    "For the love of money is the root of all evil..." -- I Timothy 6:10, KJV

  13. #11
    Tax tics using our money to fund it no doubt.
    Pfizer Macht Frei!

    Openly Straight Man, Danke, Awarded Top Rated Influencer. Community Standards Enforcer.


    Quiz: Test Your "Income" Tax IQ!

    Short Income Tax Video

    The Income Tax Is An Excise, And Excise Taxes Are Privilege Taxes

    The Federalist Papers, No. 15:

    Except as to the rule of appointment, the United States have an indefinite discretion to make requisitions for men and money; but they have no authority to raise either by regulations extending to the individual citizens of America.

  14. #12
    This is a $#@! way to sell this political narrative that they were just being partisan when its obvious the DNC was using the deep state to rig the election. I think that's the reason why he claims that this is a first amendment issue, this is a political coverup of collusion of multiple government agencies to manipulate the 2016 election. Its one thing to fire the guy, but to fire the guy for being anti Trump is fake news.

  15. #13
    Quote Originally Posted by phill4paul View Post
    He'll easily get it. He's one of those few kinda cops that Dems copsuck on.
    I think they raised 400k for mccabe
    THE SQUAD of RPF
    1. enhanced_deficit - Paid Troll / John Bolton book promoter
    2. Devil21 - LARPing Wizard, fake magical script reader
    3. Firestarter - Tax Troll; anti-tax = "criminal behavior"
    4. TheCount - Comet Pizza Pedo Denier <-- sick

    @Ehanced_Deficit's real agenda on RPF =troll:

    Who spends this much time copy/pasting the same recycled links, photos/talking points.

    7 yrs/25k posts later RPF'ers still respond to this troll

  16. #14
    Jan2017
    Member

    They could just put the GoFund monies into their prison commissary accounts -
    they'll be popular prison bitches that Andy McCabe and Peter Strozk
    Last edited by Jan2017; 08-14-2018 at 08:10 AM.

  17. #15
    If he was fired, despite the recommendations by the office disciplinarian to do less, then there is significantly more info that has not become public yet.

  18. #16
    Quote Originally Posted by Jan2017 View Post
    They could just put the GoFund monies into their prison commissary accounts -
    they'll be popular prison bitches that Andy McCabe and Peter Strozk
    Protective Custody for the duration. Doubt they would survive in population.
    Liberty is lost through complacency and a subservient mindset. When we accept or even welcome automobile checkpoints, random searches, mandatory identification cards, and paramilitary police in our streets, we have lost a vital part of our American heritage. America was born of protest, revolution, and mistrust of government. Subservient societies neither maintain nor deserve freedom for long.
    Ron Paul 2004

    Registered Ron Paul supporter # 2202
    It's all about Freedom



  19. Remove this section of ads by registering.
  20. #17
    Great. Only 34,999 to go!
    "And now that the legislators and do-gooders have so futilely inflicted so many systems upon society, may they finally end where they should have begun: May they reject all systems, and try liberty; for liberty is an acknowledgment of faith in God and His works." - Bastiat

    "It is difficult to free fools from the chains they revere." - Voltaire

  21. #18
    Jan2017
    Member

    “This decision should be deeply troubling to all Americans.”
    Yup . . . I am very troubled that your client Peter Strozk has not yet been imprisoned -
    indictment forthcoming as a seditious conspirator as bad as the Puerto Rican clan 0f the 70's - led by Riviera -

    Whas' the difference between "force" and "violence" ?
    Last edited by Jan2017; 08-14-2018 at 10:36 AM.



Similar Threads

  1. Peter Strzok: Partisan FBI infiltrator
    By Brian4Liberty in forum U.S. Political News
    Replies: 161
    Last Post: 08-27-2019, 06:55 PM
  2. Peter Strzok Testimony Leads to Fiery Exchanges
    By dannno in forum U.S. Political News
    Replies: 31
    Last Post: 07-15-2018, 04:16 PM
  3. Does NSA record calls or text messages?
    By Edward777 in forum U.S. Political News
    Replies: 42
    Last Post: 08-23-2013, 10:55 AM
  4. Interesting text messages from my Mom today.
    By TheBlackPeterSchiff in forum Economy & Markets
    Replies: 23
    Last Post: 09-27-2012, 10:25 AM
  5. Would text messages keep everyone more involved?
    By pkoury in forum Grassroots Central
    Replies: 16
    Last Post: 01-25-2008, 10:34 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •