Utopia Talk / Politics / Finally: Peter Strzok Fired

Hot Rod Revved Up	Mon Aug 13 12:06:02 FBI agent Peter Strzok fired over anti-Trump texts by Matt Zapotosky August 13 at 12:16 PM Email the author The FBI has fired agent Peter Strzok, who helped lead the bureau’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election until officials discovered he had been sending anti-Trump texts. Aitan Goelman, Strzok’s lawyer, said FBI Deputy Director David L. Bowdich ordered the firing on Friday — even though the director of the FBI office that normally handles employee discipline had decided Strzok should face only a demotion and 60-day suspension. Goelman said the move undercuts the FBI’s repeated assurances that Strzok would be afforded the normal disciplinary process. “This isn’t the normal process in any way more than name,” Goelman said, adding in a statement, “This decision should be deeply troubling to all Americans.” The FBI declined to comment. The termination marks a remarkable downfall for Strzok, a 22-year veteran of the bureau who investigated Russian spies, defense officials accused of selling secrets to China and myriad other important cases. In the twilight of his career, Strzok was integral to two of the bureau’s most high-profile investigations: the Russia case; and the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server while she was secretary of state. But when a Justice Department inspector general investigation uncovered politically charged messages that Strzok had exchanged with another FBI official, he was relegated to a position in human resources. Conservatives soon made Strzok the face of their attacks against the special counsel investigation into the president’s campaign, and the FBI took steps to remove Strzok from its ranks. [FBI agent Peter Strzok feuds with GOP critics at hearing] President Trump on Monday used Strzok’s firing to suggest the Russia investigation should be dropped, and the Clinton case redone. “Agent Peter Strzok was just fired from the FBI - finally. The list of bad players in the FBI & DOJ gets longer & longer. Based on the fact that Strzok was in charge of the Witch Hunt, will it be dropped? It is a total Hoax. No Collusion, No Obstruction - I just fight back!” he wrote. Minutes later, he added, “Just fired Agent Strzok, formerly of the FBI, was in charge of the Crooked Hillary Clinton sham investigation. It was a total fraud on the American public and should be properly redone!” On Monday, Strzok’s team launched a GoFundMe page with a lengthy statement to raise money for his “legal costs and lost income,” and said on the site that his firing was “apparently driven by political pressure.” Because Strzok is a senior-level FBI employee, and because the FBI’s No. 2 official directed his firing, he has few realistic avenues left to get back his job. It’s unclear if he plans to pursue legal action against the bureau. Strzok’s position in the bureau had been precarious since last summer, when the Department of Justice’s inspector general, Michael E. Horowitz, told special counsel Robert S. Mueller III that the lead agent on his team had been exchanging anti-Trump messages with an FBI lawyer. The next day, Mueller expelled Strzok from the group. The lawyer, Lisa Page, had also been a part of Mueller’s team, though she left a few weeks earlier and no longer works for the FBI. She and Strzok were having an affair. Trump has previously derided the pair as “FBI lovers,” and he and his conservative allies have pointed to their conduct in an attempt to discredit the Mueller probe. On Saturday, before the firing was known publicly, Trump tweeted an attack on Strzok, Page and former FBI director James B. Comey and deputy director Andrew McCabe. “Will the FBI ever recover it’s once stellar reputation, so badly damaged by Comey, McCabe, Peter S and his lover, the lovely Lisa Page, and other top officials now dismissed or fired?” Trump wrote on Twitter. “So many of the great men and women of the FBI have been hurt by these clowns and losers!” Horowitz concluded that Strzok showed a “willingness to take official action” to hurt Trump’s electoral prospects, particularly in a text he sent telling Page “we’ll stop” Trump from being president. Strzok, who was a deputy assistant director for counterintelligence at the bureau, has apologized for sending the messages and said they reflected personal views that did not affect his work. His lawyer has said that had Strzok wanted to prevent Trump’s election, he could have leaked that Trump’s campaign was under investigation for possibly coordinating with Russia — a revelation that might have upended his bid to become president. At a congressional hearing earlier this month, Strzok sparred with Republican lawmakers who raised questions about his character and even his marriage. He asserted there was “no evidence of bias in my professional actions” and that his having to testify was “just another victory notch in [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s belt and another milestone in our enemies’ campaign to tear America apart.” Strzok was escorted out of the FBI building in June and effectively relieved of work responsibilities, though he technically remained an FBI employee as he and his attorney challenged the effort to dismiss him. On July 24, they made a final pitch to Candice M. Will, who leads the FBI’s Office of Professional Responsibility. Goelman said Will ultimately decided that Strzok face a demotion and 60-day suspension and be subjected to a “last chance agreement.” That would have put him on thin ice if he were commit another offense. But Goelman said Bowdich overruled that decision and ordered Strzok’s termination. During a June congressional hearing, FBI Director Christopher A. Wray said Strzok had been referred to the Office of Professional Responsibility — which he referred to as the bureau’s “independent disciplinary arm” — and that officials would “not hesitate to hold people strictly accountable.” Wray promised that process would be “done by the book.” Strzok is the third high-ranking FBI official involved in the Clinton and Russia investigations to be fired amid an intensely political backdrop. Trump removed Comey as the bureau’s director and said he did so thinking of the Russia case. Attorney General Jeff Sessions later removed Comey’s deputy, McCabe, after the inspector general alleged he lied about a media disclosure related to Clinton. McCabe — who, unlike Comey, could not be removed at the will of the president — has said his termination was a politically motivated attempt to undermine the Mueller probe. He is currently facing a criminal investigation by prosecutors in the District of Columbia’s U.S. Attorney’s Office. It is possible that others could yet face discipline. The inspector general identified five FBI employees, including Strzok and Page, with some connection to the Clinton email case who had exchanged messages expressing hostility toward Trump, support for Clinton or other political views. Each was referred to the FBI for possible violations of the bureau’s code of conduct. http://www...ry.html?utm_term=.7b7d6ede60d7
Hot Rod Revved Up	Mon Aug 13 12:06:49 Now. When does he go to prison?
Dukhat Member	Mon Aug 13 12:37:31 The day Hot Rod dies noone will care. It will save us from his snivelling ignorant posts.
Average Ameriacn Member	Mon Aug 13 12:43:35 We should all order more ammo just in case the FBI starts a revolt against Trump.
smart dude Member	Mon Aug 13 13:09:22 "The day Hot Rod dies noone will care." The day Hot Rod dies no-one will know. When he faked his death he pretended to be his "brother." When he dies for real nobody will give a shit enough to come here and post anything. And even if that does happen nobody will believe it because he is a lying sack of shit.
tumbleweed the wanderer	Mon Aug 13 13:36:08 @HR, what crime are you accusing him of? finding the disgusting child president to be a disgusting child during the campaign? as did most of America
tumbleweed the wanderer	Mon Aug 13 13:39:05 Trump is cheering Strzok's firing (based solely on saying mean things about Trump rather than job performance problems) the same day Trump admits he wanted to keep Omarosa despite horrible job performance because she said 'great' things about him
Forwyn Member	Mon Aug 13 13:41:50 "On Monday, Strzok’s team launched a GoFundMe page with a lengthy statement to raise money for his “legal costs and lost income,” and said on the site that his firing was “apparently driven by political pressure.”" rofl
Paramount Member	Mon Aug 13 13:43:01 "Now. When does he go to prison?" Prison for writing things that Trump don't agree with?
Forwyn Member	Mon Aug 13 13:43:09 double rofl, people are actually giving money $21,234 of $150,000 goal Raised by 498 people in 3 hours Must be tards like Cuckhat that are now funneling the cash that they're not pouring into Jill Stein anymore.
swordtail Anarchist Prime	Mon Aug 13 13:52:01 http://www...line-images/strzok%20faces.jpg
Pillz Member	Mon Aug 13 13:57:00 Muh Russia
Dukhat Member	Mon Aug 13 14:13:39 Russia loves it. This guy was integral in catching a big part of their operations in the US. Fucking shithead cuckservatives are just happy because they can't see past their own nose and daily visits to breitbart.
Hot Rod Revved Up	Mon Aug 13 14:32:06 LOL, the fact that most of the above posts are attacks against me is sound proof that the left wing press is not telling you what is really going on. You poor bastards.
smart dude Member	Mon Aug 13 14:45:40 Hot Rod is such a narcissist that he thinks us talking about him has something to do with the "left wing press."
Hot Rod Revved Up	Mon Aug 13 15:25:57 Fido, if you would get your nose out of my ass for five minutes and watch the real news you would see where I am right. Fido, has anyone ever told you before that your nose is cold?
tumbleweed the wanderer	Mon Aug 13 16:24:51 is Fox News saying he committed crimes & should be in prison? cause that's not real news then
tumbleweed the wanderer	Mon Aug 13 16:26:29 and Devin Nunes is actually clearly doing the things they imply Strzok did but have no evidence of (corruptly acting on the investigation)
Forwyn Member	Mon Aug 13 16:46:43 "Russia loves it." Russia loves Jill Stein even more. lol Cuckhat
Forwyn Member	Mon Aug 13 16:48:32 "In Michigan, Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton by 10,704 votes, while Stein got 51,463 votes, according to current totals on the state’s official website. And in Wisconsin, Trump’s margin over Clinton was 22,177, while Stein garnered 31,006 votes." http://the...-than-stein-votes-in-all-three lol Cuckhat muh Russia
Pillz Member	Mon Aug 13 18:38:10 Yeah, 8 officials including the two most senior in the Fbi are fired and or under investigation, but it's all Muh Russia cuckhat
obaminated Member	Mon Aug 13 18:42:49 FBI investigator was incredibly bias
hood Member	Mon Aug 13 18:57:25 The relevant question is whether his bias interfered with his ability to be objective in the case.
obaminated Member	Mon Aug 13 19:49:59 Hood, if a dude investigating you talks about you negatively with his mistress, then bias interfered with his ability.
tumbleweed the wanderer	Mon Aug 13 19:54:20 you think all FBI agents must have neutral opinions of Trump to do their job? cause that's no one
obaminated Member	Mon Aug 13 20:02:59 you are an idiot if you think it is okay for state actors to have inherent bias.
tumbleweed the wanderer	Mon Aug 13 20:05:12 and McCabe was fired over an issue that was harmful to Hillary there remains zero evidence of corrupt action against Trump at the FBI despite the efforts of Trump and all his shameful shills
Dukhat Member	Mon Aug 13 20:12:39 Cuckservatives have such low IQ's. Nunes is the one flagrantly obstructing justice. This guy just happened to dislike Trump and text about it like over half the country did. There is a huge distinction but one too hard for your pea-sized cuckservative brains to understand. The majority of Americans are watching. End this fucking bullshit by voting this fall.
hood Member	Mon Aug 13 20:19:00 "Hood, if a dude investigating you talks about you negatively with his mistress, then bias interfered with his ability." You must be absolutely fucking awful at your job if you let every little opinion affect your performance. "you are an idiot if you think it is okay for state actors to have inherent bias." I should be able to stop at "you are an idiot," as it is inherently obvious, but you might accuse me of bias. You are an idiot if you think people without bias exist, anywhere.
obaminated Member	Tue Aug 14 02:58:17 If you have bias about who you are investigating, you should not be investigating them. is this really a concept that troubles you?
mexicantardnado Member	Tue Aug 14 03:34:50 Duuuur I dont duuuur believe duuuur you can be impartial duuuur or objective duuuur because duuuur you have an opinion duuuuuuuuuuurrrr
delude Member	Tue Aug 14 05:00:08 "if a dude investigating you talks about you negatively with his mistress, then bias interfered with his ability. " So I guess any investigation about anyone is without merit, yes?
Hot Rod Revved Up	Tue Aug 14 05:47:50 A good G-Man can be objective. They are schooled on how to do it I think.
Delude Member	Tue Aug 14 06:01:28 And yet there was no evidence provided that showed his objectivity compromised anything during his career.
Delude Member	Tue Aug 14 06:02:01 *showed any lack of objectivity
Nimatzo iChihuaha	Tue Aug 14 06:35:44 >>You must be absolutely fucking awful at your job if you let every little opinion affect your performance.<< I have to disagree, hood. Bias is a reliable way to fuck up the best of intentions. Beyond that, perception wise it will always serve to sully that investigation and these things are already clouded by some ambiguity. OJ Simpson being the extreme case and my own work related investigations, where the person doing the investigating had a personal beef with the person being investigated. So that becomes The topic on everyones mind and easy way to dismiss everything. It is a similar principle as not auditing your own work. And while your question about did it interfer is relevant, it isn’t always easy to answer it satisfactory and have it accepted after the fact. All these things are predictable and can be mitigated systematically.
delude Member	Tue Aug 14 06:43:06 While there isn't any disagreement with what you said. It does not negate the fact that those have opinions or particular bias. It is the ability to set aside those bias and remain impartial and objective with your job. Law enforcement do this on a daily basis, generally speaking. However, your point is valid, but hood's is just as equally valid.
hood Member	Tue Aug 14 07:32:21 @nim: I disagree with your disagreement, but also agree with your general premise. Yes, bias is always going to be present and it can make for extremely awkward situations. However, you seemed to disagree with my sentiment that an inability to set aside bias in order to perform a job doesn't impact said performance. I argue it absolutely does. Part of being a professional is being able to work with people you may not like and be polite, doing tasks you don't agree with, implementing agendas that are not your own. If you let your opinions get in the way, you are terrible at your job. Being professional is putting these things aside and acting politely, getting your work done. Certainly, Strzok should be questioned for his bias and have his work examined to verify whether his bias interfered or not. I know of no rational person who would disagree with that. I absolutely disagree with mt and his suggestion that by having bias, that inherently (as a property that simply exists) prevents one from being able to work objectively. "And while your question about did it interfer is relevant, it isn’t always easy to answer it satisfactory and have it accepted after the fact." There are 2 parallel statements here. 1. Strzok's bias isn't the issue, it's whether it interfered with the investigation. 2. Simply having a bias doesn't equate to that bias interfering with an ability to perform a task; people do it all the time. While 2 clearly seems to support 1, I have not suggested that 2 is absolutely true in this case. I stated quite plainly that 2 is a possibility for any given issue and to dismiss it without a bother to verify, as mt is doing, is ridiculously retarded. Statement 1 is still valid and verification is needed. Or was, as this administration pretty much just flops around as it pleases, far removed from any tangible oversight.
tumbleweed the wanderer	Tue Aug 14 11:37:19 when police investigate gang members for crimes, do you think they have neutral opinions of them? and having a negative view of Trump is natural & expected by anyone w/ a good judge of character... or even moderate judge of character... which is what you'd want in FBI agents
tumbleweed the wanderer	Tue Aug 14 11:41:27 evidence example #2,198,375,823,947: "Strzok started the illegal Rigged Witch Hunt - why isn’t this so-called “probe” ended immediately?" ~ total piece of shit liar child there is NO EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER to suggest Strzok started this investigation (nor that it was started improperly in any way for that matter)... and Trump has also claimed the 'fake' dossier started it (which also was not the start, & was not fake, & has nothing to do w/ Strzok)
	show deleted posts

Your Name:
Your Password:
Your Message: