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Democrats Turn Strzok Hearing Into Circus — Literally Acting as a Cheer Squad

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House Democrats are committed to turning FBI Agent Peter Strzok’s testimony before Congress into a clown show, interrupting the questions of their Republican colleagues and literally acting as a cheer squad for Strzok.

When House Oversight and Government Reform Committee chairman Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., attempted to ask Strzok a question about the number of people he interviewed in the first week of the FBI’s Russian election interference investigation, Strzok refused to answer on the advice of the FBI’s lawyers.

“Based on that, I will not answer that question because it goes to matters related to the ongoing investigation,” Strzok said.

When House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., attempted to force Strzok to answer the question, arguing he must do so because he was subpoenaed by Congress, Strzok denied that he had been subpoenaed, claiming he had come to testify voluntarily. That, of course, didn’t sit well with the Republicans, who claimed Strzok had no “valid legal basis” for refusing to answer the question.

Then the Democrats did this:

Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., interrupted the questioning with several “point of order” interjections, which Goodlatte attempted to ignore. The Democrats contend that Republicans know they cannot ask questions about an ongoing federal investigation. The Republicans contend that they’re not asking specific questions about the investigation, and therefore Strzok ought to be compelled to answer or be held in contempt of Congress.

In a very stupid moment, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, asserted that Strzok was invoking “attorney-client privilege” and therefore shouldn’t be forced to answer Gowdy’s question. That’s an absurd objection. Strzok was not being asked to disclose information he holds in confidence with his lawyer. Goodlatte pointed out that Strzok isn’t even talking about his personal lawyer but is referring to the FBI general counsel. Strzok was being asked about the timing of the FBI Russia investigation and when it began to interview people — a question that does not touch upon information about the investigation specifically.

Strzok ultimately refused to answer the question, and Goodlatte threatened to hold him in contempt of Congress.

In another stupid moment, Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., made a parliamentary inquiry that was ruled out of order about holding former Trump adviser Stephen K. Bannon in contempt of Congress for refusing to answer Gowdy’s questions when he was under subpoena before the House Intelligence Committee.

This was all an attempt to disrupt the flow of Gowdy’s questioning. When Gowdy finally managed to ask Strzok about his bias and the text messages vowing to “stop” Trump from becoming president, Strzok vehemently denied that his personal feelings affected the FBI investigations he was involved in.

Strzok claimed the “we’ll stop it” text he sent to his lover, FBI lawyer Lisa Page, referred to Americans in general rejecting Trump at the ballot box. He said his text was “written late at night, off the cuff.”

“It was in no way, unequivocally, any suggestion that me, the FBI, would take any action whatsoever to improperly impact the electoral process for any candidate,” Strzok said, taking “great offense” to Gowdy’s questions.

At the end of his answer, in which he accused the Republicans of attacking the FBI, Democrats erupted into applause.

The Democrats don’t want answers from Strzok. It’s clear from this hearing that they are there to protect him from tough questions from Republicans and cheer him on when he repeats their narrative about the Republicans undermining American democracy by questioning the FBI. (For more from the author of “Democrats Turn Strzok Hearing Into Circus — Literally Acting as a Cheer Squad” please click HERE)

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Page Thinks She’s Above the Law, so Congress Sends in U.S. Marshals

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By Conservative Tribune. That’s the scenario playing out this week in Washington, as Congress tries to get former FBI lawyer Lisa Page to testify about anti-Trump texts she exchanged with FBI agent Peter Strzok, with whom she was having an affair. . .

“I am very disturbed by this,” Ryan said of Page’s no-show during a press conference. “Congressional subpoenas for testimony are not optional. … She was a part of a mess that they have uncovered over at DOJ. She has an obligation to come testify.” . . .

Republican Rep. Robert Goodlatte of Virginia said Wednesday that Page’s attorney initially agreed to accept service of the subpoena for Page, but “then turned around and immediately tried to reject it,” according to Fox News. . .

Page’s attorney, Amy Jeffress, said her client did not appear Wednesday because she did not have time to prepare, claiming Page had been denied access to FBI files necessary for her to prepare for questioning.

“Through her actions and words, Lisa has made it abundantly clear that she will cooperate with this investigation. All she is asking is to be treated as other witnesses have under the Committees’ own rules,” Jeffress said in a statement. (Read more from “Page Thinks She’s Above the Law, so Congress Sends in U.S. Marshals” HERE)

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U.S. Marshals ‘went to Lisa Page’s house three times’ to serve a subpoena

By Emily Goodin and Ariel Zilber. A top Republican on Capitol Hill has sent the United States Marshals Service to deliver a subpoena to a former FBI lawyer who defied an earlier request by Congress to testify about alleged anti-Trump bias within the bureau.

Representative Bob Goodlatte, a Republican from Virginia, says he instructed the Marshals to serve a subpoena to Lisa Page, whom he has accused of ‘apparently’ having ‘something to hide.’

Earlier on Wednesday, Page defied a congressional subpoena and declined to appear before a closed-door session of the House Judiciary Committee, which Goodlatte chairs.

Goodlatte said that initially Page’s lawyer agreed to accept the subpoena, but ‘then turned around and immediately tried to reject it,’ according to Fox News.

[He continued:] ‘They had to go back three times before they were finally able to reach her.’ (Read more from “US Marshals Go to Page’s House Three Times” HERE)

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Rep Explains the Explosive Revelation From Strzok Testimony

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By The Blaze. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) explained the pivotal piece of the puzzle about the origins of the Russian investigation that was revealed by Peter Strzok in his testimony before Congress Thursday.

Jordan explained that the justification of the Russian investigation came from flawed documents including the “Trump dossier” that was created through the efforts of Democrat-linked entities like Fusion GPS.

“Today, think about that, the top DOJ official Bruce Ohr actually hands parts of the dossier to the FBI,” Rep. Jordan told Sean Hannity on his show Thursday.

And remember Bruce Ohr’s wife Nellie worked for Fusion GPS, who was paid by the Clinton campaign to put this entire dossier together,” he explained. “This is the first time to my knowledge the FBI has admitted they got parts of the dossier from Bruce Ohr, a fellow DOJ employee.” . . .

“Bruce Ohr, the fourth ranking official at the Department of Justice, his wife works for Fusion GPS, in the summer, he gets information, passes it to the FBI, that becomes the basis to spy on the Trump campaign, plain and simple,” Jordan continued. “This is the first time to my knowledge the FBI has admitted that, and it was good that we got some of that information out today.” (Read more from “Rep Explains the Explosive Revelation From Strzok Testimony” HERE)

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Giuliani Slams Strzok for Refusing to Admit Different Versions of Trump Dossier

By Fox News. Rudy Giuliani on Thursday slammed the “totally phony” Russia probe after anti-Trump FBI agent Peter Strzok refused to identify the individuals who apparently handed the bureau three different copies of the salacious Trump dossier.

“Isn’t that called collusion or conspiracy to gin up a totally inappropriate, totally illegally wire based on national security? And doesn’t it taint the entire Russian probe?” Giuliani told Fox News’ Laura Ingraham on “The Ingraham Angle.”

“That’s a disgrace, [Special Counsel Robert] Mueller should be ashamed of himself. Those Democrats trying to protect that liar, Strzok, should be ashamed of themselves. And every FBI agent I know wants to see this guy drummed out of the bureau,” he said. (Read more from “Giuliani Slams Strzok for Refusing to Admit Different Versions of Trump Dossier” HERE)

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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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