President Trump engaged in a Twitter offensive Sunday evening against Peter Strzok, an FBI agent infamous for his text messages conveying an anti-Trump bias, calling him a “sick loser.”
Hours after it was revealed that Strzok is willing to testify before Congress, Trump connected him to “Slippery” ex-FBI Director James Comey and special counsel Robert Mueller, who is leading the federal Russia investigation.
“Why was the FBI’s sick loser, Peter Strzok, working on the totally discredited Mueller team of 13 Angry & Conflicted Democrats, when Strzok was giving Crooked Hillary a free pass yet telling his lover, lawyer Lisa Page, that ‘we’ll stop’ Trump from becoming President? Witch Hunt!” Trump tweeted.
Why was the FBI’s sick loser, Peter Strzok, working on the totally discredited Mueller team of 13 Angry & Conflicted Democrats, when Strzok was giving Crooked Hillary a free pass yet telling his lover, lawyer Lisa Page, that “we’ll stop” Trump from becoming President? Witch Hunt!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 18, 2018
Strzok, who had a leading role in the Hillary Clinton emaills investigation, was kicked from Mueller’s team after his anti-Trump, pro-Clinton texts were discovered.
Trump was referring to a revelation in the Justice Department inspector general report released Thursday on the Hillary Clinton emails investigation regarding a text message exchange between Strzok and Lisa Page, an FBI lawyer with whom he was having an affair.
The watchdog report showed Page wrote to Strzok in August 2016, asking “[Trump’s] not ever going to become president, right? Right?!”
Strzok responded: “No. No he won’t. We’ll stop it.”
The IG concluded that Strzok’s text, along with other disparaging messages, “is not only indicative of a biased state of mind but, even more seriously, implies a willingness to take official action to impact the presidential candidate’s electoral prospects.” The text messages “potentially indicated or created the appearance that investigative decisions were impacted by bias or improper considerations,” the watchdog report added
[Also read: FBI to require political bias training after damaging IG report]
While inspector General Michael Horowitz referred his findings on Strzok to the FBI’s Office of Professional Responsibility for possible disciplinary measures, Strzok’s lawyer, Aitan Goelman, claimed, “Every witness asked by the OIG said that Strzok’s work was never influenced by political views.”
But Trump, who recently has engaged in a war against an alleged “spy” informant hired by the FBI to speak with members of his campaign who had suspicious ties to Russia, spun the Strzok barbs into a larger picture.
“’The highest level of bias I’ve ever witnessed in any law enforcement officer.’” Trey Gowdy on the FBI’s own, Peter Strzok. Also remember that they all worked for Slippery James Comey and that Comey is best friends with Robert Mueller. A really sick deal, isn’t it?” Trump tweeted.
“The highest level of bias I’ve ever witnessed in any law enforcement officer.” Trey Gowdy on the FBI’s own, Peter Strzok. Also remember that they all worked for Slippery James Comey and that Comey is best friends with Robert Mueller. A really sick deal, isn’t it?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 18, 2018
During a “Fox News Sunday” interview, House Oversight Chairman Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., struck a tough tone in addressing the Justice Department and FBI about congressional demands for documents that are the subject of outstanding subpoenas. He said House Speaker Paul Ryan led a meeting with senior Justice Department and FBI officials Friday, and claimed he “made it very clear” the House will use “its full arsenal of constitutional weapons to gain compliance.”
The interview also addressed Comey and Strzok. Fox News anchor Chris Wallace asked whether Gowdy though they should testify before Congress. Gowdy replied in the affirmative.
In responding to Wallace’s follow-up on the question of what issues they should be asked about, Gowdy said: “Well, Peter Strzok, you name it. The highest level of bias I’ve ever witnessed in any law enforcement officer. And, Comey, in the words of my grandmamma, has some explaining to do. He’s having a hard time getting his histories to match up. Horowitz was very critical of him and deservedly so.”
Trump also took aim at one of his favorite targets in his Twitter tear: The “fake news” media.
“Why was the FBI giving so much information to the Fake News Media,” he said. “They are not supposed to be doing that, and knowing the enemy of the people Fake News, they put their own spin on it – truth doesn’t matter to them!”
Why was the FBI giving so much information to the Fake News Media. They are not supposed to be doing that, and knowing the enemy of the people Fake News, they put their own spin on it – truth doesn’t matter to them!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 18, 2018
That tweet came after House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., took a swipe at the DOJ and FBI during a Fox News interview Sunday, accusing officials of espousing a double standard: leaking to the press but refusing to comply with congressional oversight requests for documents.
“I have not been, as you know. My patience is — is — has run out. I believe that they have leaked — they created massive leaks. We know that from the I.G. Report. Inspector Horowitz showed us these major, major gaffes,” Nunes said.
The IG report showed rampant leaking among FBI officials.
