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Emails Appear to Blow a Hole in Strzok’s Statement on Page FISA

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By Conservative Tribune. During a closed-door interview on June 27, former FBI official Peter Strzok downplayed his role in obtaining surveillance warrants to spy on former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page.

The Daily Beast reported that Strzok, the former deputy chief of counterintelligence, claimed in the interview that he had no substantive input on drafting or securing Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrants used to spy on Page, an energy consultant who left the Trump team in September 2016. . .

A Republican in the June 27 interview confirmed that Strzok, who oversaw the Russian investigation, denied having a direct role in the FISA process. But the Republican was also incredulous at Strzok’s suggestion that he had little to do with the spy warrants obtained against Page. . .

Strzok and Lisa Page exchanged numerous anti-Trump text messages during their work on the Russia probe, which was codenamed “Crossfire Hurricane.” In one Aug. 8, 2016, message, Strzok told Page that “we’ll stop” Trump from becoming president.

Strzok, who was the FBI’s top investigator on Crossfire Hurricane, sent an email with the subject line “Crossfire FISA” to Lisa Page discussing a set of talking points aimed at getting then-FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe to push the Department of Justice to approve a surveillance warrant against Carter Page, according to Solomon. (Read more from “Emails Appear to Blow a Hole in Strzok’s Statement on Page FISA” HERE)

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Peter Strzok Agrees to Testify Before Congress Next Week

By CBS News. The FBI’s Peter Strzok has agreed to go before the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday, according to his attorney, Aitan Goelman. Strzok’s agreement is in response to a subpoena requiring his appearance, after he already appeared for a behind-closed-doors meeting on Capitol Hill.

Strzok, who worked on the FBI’s investigations into Hillary Clinton’s emails and Russian meddling in the 2016 election before briefly joining special counsel Robert Mueller’s team, was the subject of criticism in last month’s Department of Justice inspector general report on the handling of the Clinton probe. He had already been criticized for sending text messages critical of President Trump during the campaign.

Strzok’s attorney said in a statement that, even though it will be impossible for his client to get a fair hearing, claiming some House members have a political bias and “disdain for the truth,” Strzok still wants to play by the rules in order to attempt to have the unfiltered truth be heard.

“If members of Congress actually want to be honest with the American people and seek a fair process, they must publicly release the transcript of Pete’s previous 11-hour testimony,” Goelman said in the statement. “Today we sent a letter to the House Judiciary Committee requesting that the public have access to that testimony prior to the July 12th hearing.” (Read more from “Peter Strzok Agrees to Testify Before Congress Next Week” HERE)

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Strzok Gets the News He’s Been Dreading

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By Conservative Tribune. Virginia Republican Rep. Bob Goodlatte issued the subpoena to force Strzok to appear before both the House Judiciary and House Oversight and Government Reform committees.

The hearing will focus on Strzok’s work on both the Hillary Clinton email investigation and the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential campaign.

Strzok’s attorney, Aitan Goelman, said on Monday that his client had retracted a previous offer to testify publicly.

Goelman cited a closed-door interview on June 27 with the House Judiciary and Oversight Committees as evidence that Republicans were setting “a trap” for the embattled FBI agent.

“Having sharpened their knives behind closed doors, the committee would now like to drag back Special Agent Strzok and have him testify in public — a request that we originally made and the committee denied,” Goelman said in a letter first reported by CNN. (Read more from “Strzok Gets the News He’s Been Dreading” HERE)

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FBI’s Peter Strzok May Ignore House Subpoena, Says His Lawyer

By Washington Examiner. Peter Strzok, the former FBI agent who vowed to “stop” President Trump from winning the 2016 election despite being part of a federal investigation into his campaign, may not show up to testify next week despite being subpoenaed.

“My client will testify soon, somewhere, sometime. We just got this subpoena today, so I don’t know whether or not we are going to be testifying next Tuesday in front of these two particular House subcommittees,” Aitan Goelman, Strzok’s attorney, told CNN’s Chris Cuomo.

Goelman said he could not automatically respond “yes” because the two “have come to the conclusion, forced to come to the conclusion, that this is not a search for truth, it is a chance for Republican members of the House to preen and posture before their most radical, conspiracy-minded constituents.” (Read more from “FBI’s Peter Strzok May Ignore House Subpoena, Says His Lawyer” HERE)

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Dirty: FBI Now Using Attorneys to Keep Congress in Dark About Peter Strzok

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. . .Following a more than 10 hour closed-door House Judiciary Committee hearing with embattled FBI agent Peter Strzok, committee chairman Bob Goodlatte said Strzok refused to answer many of the questions directed at him. . .

“Unfortunately, the FBI counsel in the room has instructed Mr. Strzok not to answer many, many questions,” Goodlatte told Fox News host Martha MacCallum.

“That’s going to be a serious problem moving forward so we will be raising questions with the FBI and with the Department of Justice about why it is that their counsel is instructing Mr. Strzok not to answer questions.”

Goodlatte explained that these questions are key to getting to the bottom of Strzok’s role in the Clinton email investigation and the Trump campaign/Russia investigation, and the influence he had on the decision’s being made.

“These are questions that are central to our investigation,” Goodlatte said. “We’re asking questions about his central role in both the investigations related to Hillary Clinton and the investigations related to the Trump campaign and a so-called Russian collusion. And these are questions not about the substance of that second investigation, but about the process of his getting involved in that.” (Read more from “Dirty: FBI Now Using Attorneys to Keep Congress in Dark About Peter Strzok” HERE)

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Rep. Issues Serious Warning for Rod Rosenstein

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By Townhall. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and FBI Director Christopher Wray [went to] Capitol Hill Thursday morning to testify about the FBI’s conduct during the 2016 presidential election. The House Judiciary Committee members had plenty to ask the two men about the recent IG report that exposed the anti-Trump bias of some FBI agents. One of those agents, Peter Strzok, met with committee members behind closed doors this week.

The committee is also fed up with the apparent resistance from the DOJ and FBI for documents related to the agencies’ conduct, specifically whether informants spied on the Trump campaign. . .

Still, other committee members were impatient for Wray and Rosenstein to hurry up and provide whatever evidence they may have that can once and for all conclude the investigation. . .

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) grilled Rosenstein about keeping information from Congress and for directing Strzok to keep quiet during their meetings. . .

“You have seven days to get your act together,” Jordan said. (Read more from “Rep. Issues Serious Warning for Rod Rosenstein” HERE)

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Highlights From the Tense Wray-Rosenstein Hearing

By The Hill. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and FBI Director Christopher Wray on Wednesday faced a fierce grilling from House Republicans amid the escalating feud between the Justice Department and allies of President Trump on Capitol Hill. . .

In one of the most confrontational exchanges of the day, Jordan accused the deputy attorney general of “hiding information” from Congress — a charge Rosenstein virulently denied.

“Now Mr. Jordan, I am the deputy attorney general of the United States. Okay?” Rosenstein snapped in obvious annoyance. “I am not the person doing the redacting. I am responsible for responding to your concerns, as I am … So your statement that I am personally keeping information from you, trying to conceal information —”

“You’re the boss, Mr. Rosenstein,” Jordan interrupted.

“That’s correct, and my job is to make sure we respond to your requests. And we have, sir. Again, I appreciate your concerns—” (Read more from “Highlights From the Tense Wray-Rosenstein Hearing” HERE)

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FBI Looking More Like Dating Service as 2 More Anti-Trump Lovebirds Surface

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By Conservative Tribune. Is the Federal Bureau of Investigation a serious agency full of professionals, or a middle school full of hormonal teenagers texting smiley faces to each other while playing favorites? . . .

But it appears Strzok and Page weren’t the only two FBI officials playing the dating game. Two others were cited in the Justice Department’s inspector general’s report about the bureau’s investigation of Hillary Clinton’s emails. Like Strzok and Page, the two were dating and exchanging revealing text messages on their government-issued phones. . .

“Aside from the frequent texting between Strzok, an FBI agent, and Page, a bureau lawyer assigned to the Office of General Counsel, two others labeled ‘Agent 1’ and ‘Agent 5’ on Comey’s team were in a personal relationship that predated Operation Midyear, the FBI name for the investigation,” Fox reported.

“According to the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) report, on page 411, Agents 1 and 5 also were consumed with texting — even using ‘sick face’ emoticons when sharing their disgust for then-candidate Donald Trump and his supporters,” the news outlet continued.

As with Strzok and Page, these were not just random FBI employees. At least one of the two included in the OIG report was assigned to interview Hillary Clinton as part of the email server investigation — yet they had an obvious political bias in her favor. (Read more from “FBI Looking More Like Dating Service as 2 More Anti-Trump Lovebirds Surface” HERE)

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DOJ Watchdog Report Sheds Light on Love Lives of 2 More Anti-Trump FBI Employees (And Their Emoticons)

By Fox News. The Justice Department watchdog’s bombshell report on the FBI’s actions in the Hillary Clinton email investigation shed light on anti-Trump texts from two other FBI employees, beyond bureau lovebirds Peter Strzok and Lisa Page . . .

The pair were not shy about using emoticons on their FBI-issued devices. Their text messages exploded on Oct. 28 after the FBI reopened the email investigation, announcing that State Department emails had been found on former Rep. Anthony Weiner’s laptop, just days before the hotly contested U.S. presidential election. The IG report noted the “sick face” emoticon usage in their exchange . . .

13:46:48, Agent 5: “jesus christ… Trump: Glad FBI is fixing ‘horrible mistake’ on clinton emails… for f—‘s sake.”

13:47:27, Agent 5: “the f—‘s sake part was me, the rest was Trump.”

13:49:07, Agent 1: “Not sure if Trump or the fifth floor is worse…”

(Read more from “DOJ Watchdog Report Sheds Light on Love Lives of 2 More Anti-Trump FBI Employees (And Their Emoticons)” HERE)

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Bad News: It Looks Like the DOJ Official Who Tipped off Podesta Is Unlikely to Face Legal Consequences

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A former FBI director and the counsel of a government watchdog group talked to The Daily Caller to give their opinions on the ramifications of the conduct of former Assistant Attorney General Peter Kadzik. . . .

He also emailed Clinton’s 2016 campaign chair, John Podesta, with a “heads up” on when the some of her emails would be released publicly. . .

Regarding Kadzik’s conduct, former FBI assistant director Ron Hosko told The Daily Caller, “(B)ased on the findings of the IG, and their analysis, I don’t see Kadzik’s activities as a violation of law.”

“If there were some more affirmative evidence of a covert exchange, a quid pro quo like the passing of sensitive or confidential investigative information in exchange for the employment of Kadzik’s son, or Kadzik trying to influence investigative activity or outcomes coupled with a job request and response, then there might be a claim of bribery or obstruction of justice.”

“Here, though, I think the IG is making the strongest case, one of poor judgment against ethical standards that DOJ employees are expected to adhere to,” he added. “Within the FBI, one could face sanction for poor judgment and creating the appearance of impropriety. I’d think DOJ would examine this similarly.” (Read more from “Bad News: It Looks Like the DOJ Official Who Tipped off Podesta Is Unlikely to Face Legal Consequences” HERE)

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McCabe Pleads 5th While Comey and Lynch Don’t Even Come to Senate Hearing

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A Senate Judiciary Committee hearing designed to learn more about a federal report on the flawed investigation into Hillary Clinton’s emails was stymied when one key witness refused to talk and two others did not even attend.

Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, who had sought immunity before he would discuss his role in the investigation, refused to testify after it was not granted. Instead, Committee Chairman Sen. Chuck Grassley said Monday that McCabe invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, The Washington Times reported.

Former Attorney General Loretta Lynch and former FBI Director James Comey were also invited to testify but did not attend. Grassley cited them both in his comments.

“Mr. Comey’s attorney tells us he is out of the country, although I saw he was in Iowa over the weekend. According to his Twitter feed, he seems to be having a wonderful time,” the Iowa Republican said.

“This is the second time since he was fired that Mr. Comey refused an invitation to testify here voluntarily. He has time for book tours and television interviews, but apparently no time to assist this Committee, which has primary jurisdiction over the Justice Department,” Grassley said.

In reference to Lynch, he said, “The need for transparency does not end when senior officials are fired or quit.”

Last week, the Justice Department’s Inspector General presented its report on the year-long FBI investigation into Clinton’s use of a private server while she was secretary of state. The report, which can be read at the Justice Department’s website, depicted a pervasive culture of bias against President Donald Trump at the FBI and Justice Department.

McCabe’s silence came as no surprise.

“If McCabe is not granted immunity, he will invoke his 5th Amendment privilege,” McCabe’s attorney, Michael Bromwich, had written to the committee. McCabe was fired over leaking material to the media.

Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz and FBI Director Christopher Wray did appear before the Committee on Monday.

Wray was asked by Sen. Ted Cruz about a dispute between Comey and McCabe.

McCabe has said Comey approved McCabe’s leaks to the media. Comey has denied that.

“One or the other is not telling the truth. I don’t know which one,” the Texas Republican said.

Wray said he could not answer because the answer could impact an ongoing investigation.

Horowitz later said an investigation is underway into Comey’s actions, including his leaking of private memos and the leaking of other internal details to the media, The Chicago Tribune reported.

Grassley said he wanted to force Comey, Lynch and McCabe to testify but California’s Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the ranking Democrat on the panel, prevented him from issuing subpoenas, according to BizPac Review.

“We changed our rules at the beginning of this Congress to ensure the Chairman and the Ranking Member could compel hearing testimony from important witnesses like these,” Grassley said. “Unfortunately, the Ranking Member refused to agree to compel any of them to be here today. That’s a shame because we should be asking them how all of this happened on their watch.” (For more from the author of “McCabe Pleads 5th While Comey and Lynch Don’t Even Come to Senate Hearing” please click HERE)

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The IG Report on FBI’s Clinton Probe Reveals This Saga May Be Just Getting Started

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The media has focused almost exclusively on the conclusion of the Justice Department inspector general’s report on the FBI’s handling of the Clinton email probe, which found bias did not impact the probe, as well as the lack of any newly announced indictments or criminal referrals. The goal of course being to downplay the negative findings of the report.

At the same time, the press gave, at most, passing mention to the statement Attorney General Jeff Sessions simultaneously released. But his statement and the findings of the report make one thing clear: This isn’t over.

Here’s why. Throughout the 568-page report, the IG highlighted several areas meriting additional investigation. And Sessions said the report “reveals a number of significant errors by the senior leadership of the Department of Justice and the FBI during the previous administration,” and stressed “this is not the end of the process.”

United States Attorney John Huber continues his work in cooperation with the IG to review certain prosecutorial and investigative determinations made by the Justice Department in 2016 and 2017. Based on his review of the report and his own investigation, Huber will provide recommendations as to whether any matter not currently under investigation should be opened, whether any matters currently under investigation required further resources, or whether any matters merit the appointment of Special Counsel.”

Put simply: There is still much to be done and much to come. What is likely over is the possibility the Justice Department will re-investigate Clinton for mishandling of classified information, or prosecute her. That’s a good thing. Clinton is done. While she may never face justice in a court of law, perhaps losing the presidency is a more prescient and proper punishment. (Read more from “The IG Report on FBI’s Clinton Probe Reveals This Saga May Be Just Getting Started” HERE)

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Anti-Trump FBI Agent Willing to Testify Before Congress — and Leave No Stone Unturned

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By The Blaze. FBI agent Peter Strzok, whose controversial text messages with an ex-FBI lawyer exposed apparent wrongdoing inside the Department of Justice, is willing to testify before Congress, his lawyer said in a surprise letter Sunday.

Strzok’s announcement comes just days after DOJ inspector general Michael Horowitz released his report on the DOJ’s handling of the Hillary Clinton email investigation, which Strzok helped lead. . .

According to the Washington Post, Strzok’s attorney, Aitan Goelman, sent House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) a letter Sunday revealing his client is ready to tell his side of the story and potentially “clear his name.”

Goelman said Strzok is willing to testify without immunity and would not invoke his Fifth Amendment rights in response to any question from a member of Congress. He also said Strzok is willing to testify before any committee that requests him. . .

Strzok, in addition to being a key agent in the FBI’s Clinton investigation, was also a lead agent in special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation before being removed last year when the internal DOJ watchdog discovered his anti-Trump text messages. (Read more from “Anti-Trump FBI Agent Peter Strzok Willing to Testify Before Congress — and Leave No Stone Unturned” HERE)

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Trump Blasts ‘Sick Loser’ Peter Strzok, ‘Sick Deal’ With Comey, Mueller Connections

By Fox News. President Trump took to Twitter Sunday to blast the FBI agent who was removed from special counsel Robert Mueller’s team after sending anti-Trump text messages to his mistress, calling his actions “Witch Hunt!” and “a really sick deal.”

Trump tweeted: “Why was the FBI’s sick loser, Peter Strzok, working on the totally discredited Mueller team of 13 Angry & Conflicted Democrats, when Strzok was giving Crooked Hillary a free pass yet telling his lover, lawyer Lisa Page, that ‘we’ll stop’ Trump from becoming President?”

The president added, “Also remember that they all worked for Slippery James Comey and that Comey is best friends with Robert Mueller. A really sick deal, isn’t it?”

Through his lawyer, Strzok announced Sunday he’s willing to testify before the House Judiciary Committee or any other congressional panel that invites him. The reported offer to testify came three days after Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz wrote that Strzok’s messaged conversations with FBI attorney Lisa Page created the appearance that investigative decisions may have been motivated by bias against then-candidate Trump. (Read more from “Trump Blasts ‘Sick Loser’ Peter Strzok, ‘Sick Deal’ With Comey, Mueller Connections” HERE)

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Rep. Makes Stunning Accusation Over One IMPORTANT Text Revealed in IG Report; Anyone Who Voted Trump a “Lazy POS”

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By The Blaze. Rep. Ron DeSantis lobbed an accusation at the Department of Justice over a text between anti-Trump FBI agents that was revealed in the Inspector General’s report released Thursday. . .

“The following is in the IG report,” DeSantis tweeted. “Why didn’t Rosenstein disclose this to Congress when we asked for the texts?”

“August 8 2016 Strzok-Page texts,” he added, then posted their exchange.

“Page: [Trump’s] not ever going to become President, right? Right?!” said one text according to the report.

“Strzok: No. No he’s not. We’ll stop it,” was the response from the FBI agent.

(Read more from “Republican Rep. Makes Stunning Accusation Over One Text Revealed in IG Report” HERE)

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IG Report: Do You Support Trump? Then You’re a Lazy POS, According to (At Least One) FBI Employee

By The Blaze. A conversation between the two anonymous employees on the morning of Nov. 9, 2016 (the day after Donald Trump won the presidential election), indicates a mood of remorse over investigating Hillary Clinton, and a distain for Americans who voted for President Trump.

One of the employees, an attorney, is referred to in the probe only as “FBI Attorney 2.” The other “FBI Employee” was not involved in the Clinton investigation, but had quite a bit to say. Here is the exchange between the two:

11:02:22 FBI Employee: “All the people who were initially voting for her would not, and were not, swayed by any decision the FBI put out. Trump’s supporters are all poor to middle class, uneducated, lazy *POS that think that he will magically grant them jobs for doing nothing. They probably didn’t watch the debates, aren’t fully educated on his policies, and are stupidly wrapped up in his unmerited enthusiasm.”

Then the attorney responded: “And it’s just hard not to feel like the FBI caused some of this. It was razor thin in some states…plus, my god damned name is all over the legal documents investigating his staff.”

In case you didn’t read that closely the first time, the attorney said: “My [g**] damned name is all over the legal documents investigating his staff.” (Read more from “IG Report: Do You Support Trump? Then You’re a Lazy POS, According to (At Least One) FBI Employee” HERE)

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