FBI Fires Strzok After Disastrous Testimony and Anti-Trump Texts
As the old saying goes, play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
In this case, now-former FBI agent Peter Strzok played the stupid game of being biased in a major federal investigation.
And his stupid prize is a nice, bright pink slip.
According to multiple outlets, the FBI has officially ousted Strzok after his damning anti-Trump text messages came to light in the midst of the investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election.
FBI fires Peter Strzok in wake of anti-Trump text messages. https://t.co/SSeNuYLpHu
— The Associated Press (@AP) August 13, 2018
Strzok’s notoriety hit an all-time high when text messages he had sent to his mistress, now-former FBI lawyer Lisa Page, turned out to be an extended exchange of disparaging, anti-Trump barbs.
“[Trump’s] not ever going to become president, right? Right?!” Page texted Strzok.
“No. No he won’t. We’ll stop it,” Strzok responded.
Not exactly the type of unbiased and impartial tone you’d hope for from a federal investigator.
For what it’s worth, Strzok’s attorney, Aitan Goelman, looks like he’ll go down, not swinging, but whining.
Goelman claims that Strzok was removed due to undue political pressure and “to punish Special Agent Strzok for political speech protected by the First Amendment.”
Strzok’s attorney is missing the point here. Now, far be it for me to ever proclaim more legal knowledge than a licensed lawyer, but to an outside observer, this isn’t a matter of First Amendment protections.
It’s a matter of a federal agent showing political bias in a massive federal investigation that could have enormous political implications. That seems like a fireable offense, no?
Goelman added that Strzok’s firing “should be deeply troubling to all Americans.”
According to reports, Strzok’s firing came at the direct behest of Deputy Director David L. Bowdich.
“Deputy Director of the FBI overruled the FBI’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) and departed from established precedent by firing 21-year FBI veteran Peter Strzok,” Goelman claims.
Gohlman said the OPR reportedly wanted to demote Strzok and hand him a 60-day suspension, according to The Washington Post.
Strzok attempted to defend himself during a heated House hearing in July. He likely did himself no favors with his defiant and flippant attitude that rubbed many politicians the wrong way.
At the end of the day, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy probably summed it up best in a Twitter post published Monday morning.
“Long overdue,” McCarthy wrote.
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