Lawmakers on Capitol Hill received copies of text messages from anti-Trump FBI agent Peter Strzok on Tuesday that show a clear bias against then-candidate Donald Trump and even raise questions about whether a plot was concocted to take down Trump in case he was elected.
Strzok was a part of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into alleged and unproven “collusion” between Trump campaign associates and Russian officials; he was also highly involved in the criminal investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server.
Strzok sent the text messages to FBI lawyer Lisa Page — with whom he was romantically involved — that showed a very clear anti-Trump and pro-Hillary bias.
The Department of Justice released the 90 pages of text messages to Congress, which were reported by The Washington Times, The Guardian, NBC News, CNN, Politico, and Fox News. Text messages from Strzok to Page that show his clear antipathy for Trump include:
- “How was Trump, other than a douche?”
- “Omg. You listening to npr? Apparently Melania’s speech had passages lifted from Michele Obama’s…. unbelievable.”
- “God, it’s just a two-bit organization. I do so hope his disorganization comes to bite him hard in November.”
- “I am riled up. Trump is a f**king idiot, is unable to provide a coherent answer.”
- In response to final Trump-Clinton debate: “I can’t pull away. What the f**k happened to our country??!?!”
- “YUUUUGE. Though we may save that for the man, if we ever open on him :)”
- “OMG I CANNOT BELIEE WE ARE SERIOUSLY LOOKING AT THESE ALLEGATIONS AND THE PERVASIVE CONNECTIONS. What the hell has happened to our country!?!?!??”
- “He’s an idiot like Trump”
- In response to a news article about Trump forwarded by Page: “And F Trump.”
- “God Hillary should win 100,000,000-0.”
- “OMG this is fucking terrifying: A victory by Mr Trump remains possible.”
- When asked who he would vote for, he replied, “I suppose Hillary [Clinton].”
One text message that raises serious questions was sent from Page to Strzok:
- “So look, you say we can text on that phone when we talk about Hillary because it can’t be traced.”
Why would either of them be concerned about their communications being traced if they did not have something to hide?
However, the most suspicious text message was sent by Strzok to Page, which was reported by CNN:
Later in a text from August 15, 2016, Strzok tells Page: “I want to believe the path you threw out for consideration in Andy’s office” – an apparent reference to Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe – “that there’s no way he gets elected – but I’m afraid we can’t take that risk. It’s like an insurance policy in the unlikely event you die before you’re 40 . . . .” Page does not appear to have responded, according to records reviewed by CNN.
That text message has serious implications and raises grave questions about what exactly was going on behind the scenes at the FBI, an agency that is supposed to operate in a politically unbiased way.
Strzok was the person who made the legally significant change to Director James Comey’s language on Hillary Clinton’s actions in the criminal investigation into her use of a private email server from “grossly negligent” to “extremely careless.” The Hill reports:
One source told the news outlet that electronic records reveal that Strzok changed the language from “grossly negligent” to “extremely careless,” scrubbing a key word that could have had legal ramifications for Clinton. An individual who mishandled classified material could be prosecuted under federal law for “gross negligence.”
The 90 pages of text messages released to Congress included 375 text messages out of more than 10,000 text messages between Page and Strzok.