Strzok: "I do not believe I am here under subpoena I believe I am here voluntarily."
Democrats points of order and objections to heavy-handed GOP tactics have thus far in this hearing succeeding in highlighting the clownshow nature of the hearing.
Strzok says he does not recall writing the "we'll stop" Trump from becoming president text, but that by we, he meant the American people, not he and the FBI, would stop Trump's election.
Strzok gets to add the context of the text: He says he was enraged Trump's attack on Khizr Khan, the father of a "fallen American war hero," comments that Strzok calls "disgusting" and "horrible."
Dems win small victory here by getting Republicans on two committees to vote NOT to (re)subpoena Bannon, who refused to comply with an Intel Committee subpoena at the WH's direction. This votes shows Republicans' unwillingness to bother the WH with a real investigation.
Gowdy voted "pass," which suggests he feels a bit cornered by the lack of any GOP effort to explain why they backed off Bannon.
Strzok looked earlier like he wanted to jump out of his chair and punch Gowdy. But he got past that. Having successfully described the context of the "we'll stop him" text and articulately described how the FBI avoids bias in investigations, he's way calmer and more confident.
Many more Republicans will badger Strzok, and read his texts aloud, but Gowdy likely has taken their best shot, Strzok responded pretty effectively. The drama of the hearing is mostly done. Strozk is winning.
Cicilline says he and Raskin will release the transcript of Strzok's private interview if Goodlatte and the GOP can't cite a rule prohibiting that by 5pm.
Strzok's text were also highly critical of Eric Holder. Do the GOP members, most of whom who voted to hold Holder in contempt of Congress and denounced him, know or recall that? And what kind of cognitive dissonance would that information would cause them?
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries: "This investigation is a joke. It's a fraud. This hearing is a kangaroo court. It's a three-ring circus." Jeffries adds that it's unworthy of an investigation by "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective."
Rick Gates and Paul Manafort have been indicted for conspiracy to defraud the United States for actions involving a person with alleged Russian intelligence ties.
Rep. Val Demmings (D-Fla.) with a mixed metaphor that rhymes. "We need to keep out eyes on the ball and not chase ghosts through the halls of the Department of Justice."
Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) says he's been getting texts from constituents who call today's "a trainwreck." Not convinced they mean what he seems to believe.
As the Strzok hearing continues, many Republicans are encountering the reality that a bunch of other dudes already thought up and executed the move of reading DOJ guidelines at Strozk. Distressingly though, all seem to have decided: "Screw it, I'm sticking with my plan."
