The lawyer representing former FBI official Peter Strzok said there is “no connection” between his client’s wrongful termination lawsuit and a similar suit filed by former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe.
Both men filed lawsuits against the Justice Department and FBI this week, only days apart, each claiming they were subject to politically motivated firings last year.
Some in conservative circles have surmised the back-to-back lawsuits indicate Strzok and McCabe are nervous about a review of the FBI’s conduct during the Trump-Russia investigation. But Strzok’s attorney, Aitan Goelman, told MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow there was no coordination between his client and McCabe.
“There are definitely similarities but there’s absolutely no connection until today. I didn’t know Andy McCabe was filing this lawsuit,” Goelman said Thursday evening.
Strzok, a key figure in both the Clinton email investigation and the Trump-Russia investigation whose anti-Trump text messages led to criticism by the DOJ inspector general, filed his lawsuit on Tuesday, alleging his firing was “the result of unrelenting pressure from President Trump and his political allies in Congress and the media.” He is seeking reinstatement and back pay from the bureau.
McCabe, the top FBI official who initiated the intelligence investigation into Trump’s campaign and whom the inspector general determined “lacked candor” about disclosures to the media, filed his lawsuit two days later. He is accusing Trump of pressuring his subordinates at the Justice Department to participate in an “unconstitutional plan and scheme” to have him fired and wants the DOJ to give him back pay, his full pension, and to expunge his record. McCabe was fired the same day he planned to retire.
Both Strzok and McCabe have been heavily criticized by Trump and his allies, who claim they were part of an effort to undermine Trump’s candidacy and presidency. Now, as DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz wraps up an investigation into alleged surveillance abuse and Attorney General William Barr leads a review of the Russia investigation, some surmised there could be a connection.
Tom Fitton, president of conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch, tweeted, “Methinks McCabe and Strzok lawsuits say more about their worries about indictments …”
During a Fox News interview Thursday evening, Rep. Jim Jordan said there is “big irony” and “drives Americans crazy” how these lawsuits were filed the same week that the Justice Department released FBI notes on interviews with DOJ official Bruce Ohr, who acted as a back channel between the bureau and anti-Trump dossier author Christopher Steele.
His dossier, which was funded by Democrats and contained unverified claims about Trump’s ties to Russia, was used by the FBI to obtain Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act warrants to surveil onetime Trump campaign adviser Carter Page, an American citizen who was never charged with any wrongdoing.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee who has vowed to do a “deep dive” into FISA abuse, said the fact that McCabe is suing is “very interesting” and gives his panel a chance to examine whether the former top FBI official was treated improperly.
