polecat news and views: GRILLED: Strzok Questioned by Lawmakers

Thursday, June 28, 2018

GRILLED: Strzok Questioned by Lawmakers

ouse Judiciary and House Oversight and Government Reform Committee members grilled embattled, anti-Trump FBI agent Peter Strzok behind closed doors on Capitol Hill Wednesday, as he attempted to explain his vehement bias against President Donald Trump, his senior role in the alleged Trump-Russia collusion investigation, and the exoneration of Hillary Clinton for her use of a private server while she was Secretary of State.

Strzok, who evaded a subpoena from House Judiciary Committee chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), voluntarily appeared at the hearing. Thousands of Strzok’s anti-Trump text messages, which he exchanged with former FBI lawyer and his paramour, Lisa Page, sparked anger from Republicans (and criticism from some Democrats) who contend that senior members of the FBI utilized their power and political leanings to target Trump both before and after the 2016 election.

“It was a waste—Strzok is full of it and he kept hiding behind [the] classified information excuse…”

Freedom Caucus & Judiciary Committee member, Matt Gaetz (R-FL) attended today’s deposition and reacted to Strzok’s testimony, telling the Sean Hannity Radio Show, “… I am shocked at the lack of curiosity with Robert Mueller. I mean Sean, if you were in Mueller’s shoes, and you had found these text messages, I would think that you would want to ask whether or not they impact the investigative decisions that were made, whether there was bias, whether there was contact with other members of the FBI regarding the investigation and where it was going and who was making the critical judgment calls,” the Florida Congressman said. “I just cannot believe the lack of curiosity on the part of Robert Mueller. It was the strongest reaction I had today from Peter Strzok’s testimony.”

Freedom Caucus member, Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-FL)-who was also in attendance- told SaraACarter.com, “It was a waste—Strzok is full of it and he kept hiding behind [the] classified information excuse.”

DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz’s report on the FBI’s handling of the Clinton investigation noted Strzok’s bias against Trump in the Russia investigation but didn’t state whether or not it affected the outcome of the investigation. Horowitz is expected to release a third report on Strzok (along with other senior FBI officials) and his role in the Russia investigation and the bureau’s use of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrants to target short-term Trump campaign volunteer, Carter Page.

Strzok, who was one of the bureau’s top counterintelligence agents against China and Russia, was escorted out of FBI headquarters shortly after Horowitz released his report. Attorney, Lisa Page resigned from the bureau after the text message fall-out and former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe was fired just days before his retirement after Horowitz and the FBI’s Office of Professional Responsibility concluded he had lied about leaking information to the press numerous times under oath.

Other senior FBI officials have also been fired or resigned as a result of the fall-out from the ongoing congressional and Inspector General investigations.

President Trump criticized Congress for not making the Strzok hearing public.

“The hearing of Peter Strzok and the other hating frauds at the FBI & DOJ should be shown to the public on live television, not a closed-door hearing that nobody will see,” he wrote on Twitter Tuesday. “We should expose these people for what they are—there should be total transparency!”

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) who was at the deposition Wednesday, told saraacarter.com that Strzok should be back to testify at an opening hearing.

The Judiciary Committee tweeted on Tuesday, “Peter Strzok will be interviewed first in a closed-door deposition. There will be classified information to sort through before a public hearing is held. A public hearing will be held!”