A seven-figure settlement between the Justice Department and a disgraced former FBI agent appeared to convey that government employees would benefit from “anything that hurts the Trump campaign.”
If Attorney General Merrick Garland's goal was to suppress allegations of an armed federal government, a DOJ settlement Friday did little to help that case. After their affair became a matter of public record and the subject of a play, former FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page walked away with padded briefcases in a decision seen by many as little more than the 'administration of President Joe Biden of laundering 1.2 million dollars.
The New York Times reported Friday that lawyers for Strzok, who was fired from the agency after her anti-President Donald Trump text messages with her then-lover, then-FBI attorney Page, had had been exposed, had confirmed the sum he received in a settlement dating back to a 2019 lawsuit that claimed his privacy had been violated by sharing those messages.
According to the newspaper account, “His texts sparked a political firestorm after the Justice Department in December 2017 invited reporters to review them overnight before handing them over to Congress. Then, a counterintelligence agent top FBI intelligence officer who helped oversee the bureau's investigation into the Trump campaign's possible ties to Russia in 2016, Mr. Strzok exchanged inflammatory messages with Ms. Page, a bureau lawyer involved in the investigation. Republicans seized the texts to try to discredit the investigation.”
Hamlin Lincoln Law Institute Litigation Director Ted Frank summarized the report and posted on X: “Biden administration launders $1.2 million payment to Peter Strzok (and likely similar to Lisa Page) by settling a likely doomed lawsuit.”
Commentator Katie Pavlich boiled down the decision to a question of election-year politics, stating, “Strzok was going to lose this lawsuit because, like a dum dum, he texted the” insurance policy ” on a government device, where he knew he had done. no privacy rights. Biden's DOJ issues this deal in case Trump wins in November. corrupt”.
Strzok was going to lose that lawsuit because, like a dum dum, he texted the “insurance policy” on a government device, where he knew he had no privacy rights. Biden's DOJ issues this deal in case Trump wins in November.
corrupt https://t.co/R2LFlw65Nf
— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) July 26, 2024
Criticism of the Justice Department's move and coverage abounded, Washington Examiner chief political correspondent Byron York added his take on the Times headline that read: “Justice Department Settles Lawsuit With Former Officials of the FBI targeted by Trump.”
“Wouldn't that headline be more accurate if it said 'Officials who targeted Trump'?” asked X.
York wasn't alone in asking questions along those lines, as Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz (R) raised from his personal account, “Why taxpayers owe Pete Strzok $1.2 million to hit a co-worker and bring politics to work? I know a lot of people who would do it for free.”
To the congressman's point, “HARDFACTS” co-host Jeff Carlson stated, “Strzok was fired for cause. His lawsuit was going nowhere. This was a payoff. And buying Strzok's silence. We need to remove the DOJ. From top to bottom. Like virtually all of our federal agencies, simple reform will not work.”
exactly @ByronYork … the more clearly they can say if it is necessary the FIX is on pic.twitter.com/OZb4zfnBBS
– ️ (@AmRen1776) July 27, 2024
Strzok was fired for cause. His demand was going nowhere. That was a reward. And buying Strzok's silence.
The DOJ must be destroyed. From top to bottom. Like virtually all of our federal agencies, simple reform will not work. https://t.co/yjRsKstW7p
— Jeff Carlson (@themarketswork) July 27, 2024
Never forget that every reason Strzok and McCabe cited as probable cause to open a full investigation turned out to be wrong. Unfounded and incorrect. “He hurt our feelings” is also not an appropriate predicate for unleashing the FBI's full investigatory powers on a citizen.
— Jason Beale (@jabeale) July 27, 2024
Meanwhile, Carlson's co-host Mahncke said, “This might be a good time to remind everyone that the release of the text messages between Strzok and Page (for which Strzok just received $1.2 million), revealed crucially that the FBI was secretly pursuing Trump *before* starting the Hurricane Crossfire investigation.”
This might be a good time to remind everyone that the release of the text messages between Strzok and Page (for which Strzok just received $1.2 million), crucially revealed that the FBI was secretly after Trump *before* they started the investigation into Hurricane Crossfire. https://t.co/NbIbGxMMOe pic.twitter.com/b6HC2pq67s
— Hans Mahncke (@HansMahncke) July 27, 2024
As it turned out, Strzok maintained two other active lawsuits against the Justice Department, alleging that his constitutional rights were violated and that his firing was politically motivated. He aims to be reinstated to the agency for full retirement benefits.
They are telling all current government employees that they will be rewarded for anything that hurts the Trump campaign.
— Merchant's Folly (@Spilly1173358) July 27, 2024
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