For me, Peter Strzok is a dedicated public servant who, lapses in judgment aside, does not deserve this outcome. More importantly, we need to ensure that we are not entering an era in which law enforcement officials are not entitled to personal political beliefs.
Indeed, if we can attack and punish people for their political beliefs, if "but he is a Democrat" or "she is a Republican" becomes a defense, if the assumption is that political views necessarily translate into operational biases, we're heading into very very dangerous territory.
In the past, we might have worried about this. But this president, with his complete disregard for the rule of law and this hyper-partisan Congress, are creating the presumption that everyone else is like them, placing political self-interest ahead of the national interest.
That belief would hobble our justice system and do an extraordinary disservice to everyone within it. Strzok served honorably and there is absolutely not one shred of evidence that his views influenced his behavior as an investigator. Quite the contrary, in fact.
This strong action against him may have been an effort to ensure that the FBI is above reproach--but who accept the already demonstrably corrupt and disloyal who are within their sites has called their performance into question? No one.
If the Strzok case becomes a precedent, if a loyal and effective agent can be cashiered not because they did anything wrong but because a political mob has taken out after them in a desperate effort at self-defense and with accusations that are nothing but lies, then what?
Who goes next? Will texts be required as evidence of unacceptable bias? Or will it be voter registration card? A campaign donation? A photo with an opposition political leader? A paper written in college? What level of party loyalty will we demand of our FBI? Others?
Like the attacks on a free press, like the efforts to by-pass due process on our borders, this should be seen for what it is...a dangerous step in the direction of a more authoritarian society driven by partisanship and moved by conspiracy theories over reason. Be afraid.
(And forgive the typos in the preceding. I wrote it very quickly and in a moving vehicle. Apologies.)
