So I read all 375 texts from FBI Agent Peter Strzok to FBI lawyer Lisa Page, and I have a few observations. And I'm goin gto drop a little bit about what I learned. 1/x wsj.com/articles/fbi-a…
They didn’t like Trump. That is very clear. They nuked the future president in many of the messages that were released by the Justice Department (a select -- not random -- sample of their many, many total texts). 2/x
B)But they didn’t like LOTS of people: Bernie Sanders, Martin O’Malley, Jeff Sessions, even Chelsea Clinton! Strzok called Bernie an “idiot.” Strzok, in partiuclar, wasn't a fan of Eric Holder, former President Obama's AG.
They didn’t seem guided as much by partisanship as by what they perceived competence. They seemed to be either liberal Republicans or conservative Democrats. 3/x
Strzrok spoke passionately about what he saw as turmoil in the nation: “I am worried about what Trump is encouraging in our behavior,” Mr. Strzok wrote. “The things that made me proud of our tolerance for dissent ..... is disappearing.” 4/x
They were in very high stress positions and worked many, many hours. I cannot imagine the pressure on Strzok as he led the HRC investigation. (BTW, I keep wanting to misspell his name).
They were having an affair, and that is why they bantered so much in their texts on their work phones, perhaps to keep their spouses from seeing the messages. Like couples on their couches, they were just bantering about the daily ins-outs of political life.
Affairs by agents and others in high-stress law enforcement jobs – I have covered everyone from cops/homicide detectives to agents to prosecutors – are fairly common.
Little surprised that Strzok, who was one of the nation’s counterintelligence agents, would risk his career and potential blackmail by engaging in an affair.
Agents, especially those engaged in criminal investigations (perhaps different than those in CI cases who rare see court room), know their texts could be turned over to defendants in discovery or stolen by hackers.
Case in Point: A story I wrote how agents’ texts derailing a prosecution– 5 YEARS AGO! My lede: “FBI agents and their key informant joked about sex, booty calls, prostitutes, cigars, the Village People, the informant’s wives and an agent’s girlfriend." washingtonpost.com/local/crime/ra…
A little surprising to many inside/outisde FBI is that Strzrok was investigating the Russian efforts to hack the DNC, etc. He didn’t worry that a foreign power might hack into his work cellphone? He would be a prime target of foreign service
The controversial “insurance” text is interesting. Taken in the context of the other messages, it seems more like an off-color joke than any insidious plot to get Trump. But we won’t know the true meaning until we hear from them.
One reading is that they were plotting to get the future president. Another is that the investigation wouldn’t matter that much if he lost, but if he won it would take on increasing significance. So they need to keep working on this case, a not unreasonable thought.
Or there could be a total innocuous meaning -- an inside joke, of sorts -- but again we won't know until we hear from them.
These agents took themselves, and their jobs, VERY seriously. When Mr. Strzok seemed down, Ms. Page sent him a note saying, “Maybe you’re meant to stay where you are because you’re meant to protect the country from that menace,” an apparent reference to Mr. Trump.
Before attacking their motivations and bias, it might be good to keep in mind their life's work was dedicated toward protecting the country – not to harm Mr. Trump, even if they found him distasteful (not an uncommon feeling).
That doesn't excuse bad behavior. I'm sure corrupt agents thought they were doing what was in the best interest of the country. But still good to keep in mind that they are public servants who expected to remain behind the scenes.
But they didn’t like LOTS of people: Bernie Sanders, Martin O’Malley, Jeff Sessions, even Chelsea Clinton! Strzok called Bernie an “idiot.” Strzok, in partiuclar, wasn't a fan of Eric Holder, former President Obama's AG.
They didn’t seem guided as much by partisanship as by what they perceived competence. They seemed to be either liberal Republicans or conservative Democrats. 3/x
Strzrok spoke passionately about what he saw as turmoil in the nation: “I am worried about what Trump is encouraging in our behavior,” Mr. Strzok wrote. “The things that made me proud of our tolerance for dissent ..... is disappearing.” 4/x
They were in very high stress positions and worked many, many hours. I cannot imagine the pressure on Strzok as he led the HRC investigation. (BTW, I keep wanting to misspell his name).
They were having an affair, and that is why they bantered so much in their texts on their work phones, perhaps to keep their spouses from seeing the messages. Like couples on their couches, they were just bantering about the daily ins-outs of political life.
Affairs by agents and others in high-stress law enforcement jobs – I have covered everyone from cops/homicide detectives to agents to prosecutors – are fairly common.
They were having an affair, and that is why they bantered so much in their texts on their work phones, perhaps to keep their spouses from seeing the messages. Like couples on their couches, they were just bantering about the daily ins-outs of political life.
Affairs by agents and others in high-stress law enforcement jobs – I have covered everyone from cops/homicide detectives to agents to prosecutors – are fairly common.
Little surprised that Strzok, who was one of the nation’s counterintelligence agents, would risk his career and potential blackmail by engaging in an affair.
Agents, especially those engaged in criminal investigations (perhaps different than those in CI cases who rare see court room), know their texts could be turned over to defendants in discovery or stolen by hackers.
Case in Point: A story I wrote how agents’ texts derailing a prosecution– 5 YEARS AGO! My lede: “FBI agents and their key informant joked about sex, booty calls, prostitutes, cigars, the Village People, the informant’s wives and an agent’s girlfriend." washingtonpost.com/local/crime/ra…
A little surprising to many inside/outisde FBI is that Strzrok was investigating the Russian efforts to hack the DNC, etc. He didn’t worry that a foreign power might hack into his work cellphone? He would be a prime target of foreign intel service.
A little surprising to many inside/outisde FBI is that Strzrok was investigating the Russian efforts to hack the DNC, etc. He didn’t worry that a foreign power might hack into his work cellphone? He would be a prime target of foreign intel service
The controversial “insurance” text is interesting. Taken in the context of the other messages, it seems more like an off-color joke than any insidious plot to get Trump. But we won’t know the true meaning until we hear from them.
One reading is that they were plotting to get the future president. Another is that the investigation wouldn’t matter that much if he lost, but if he won it would take on increasing significance. So they need to keep working on this case, a not unreasonable thought.
Or there could be a total innocuous meaning -- an inside joke, of sorts -- but again we won't know until we hear from them.
These agents took themselves, and their jobs, VERY seriously. When Mr. Strzok seemed down, Ms. Page sent him a note saying, “Maybe you’re meant to stay where you are because you’re meant to protect the country from that menace,” an apparent reference to Mr. Trump.
Before attacking their motivations and bias, it might be good to keep in mind their life's work was dedicated toward protecting the country – not to harm Mr. Trump, even if they found him distasteful (not an uncommon feeling).
That doesn't excuse bad behavior. I'm sure corrupt agents thought they were doing what was in the best interest of the country. But still good to keep in mind that they are public servants who expected to remain behind the scenes.
I would be very interested in reading their texts about HRC on their "untraceable" phones. If Trump were to get his wish to prosecute Mrs. Clinton, her lawyers will have a field day with that problem. Shocker: Just as Trump’s lawyers/supporters are having a field day with these!
Thanks for reading. Fin.
