By Jake Gibson | Fox News
New
questions over Peter Strzok's role in Clinton probe - Report: FBI agent Strzok helped
James Comey craft letter reopening Clinton email investigation. Photo: (Left to Right): Former FBI Director James Comey, FBI Agent Peter Strzok and Special Counsel Robert Mueller
Newly revealed text messages between
FBI paramours Peter Strzok and Lisa Page include an exchange about preparing
talking points for then-FBI Director James Comey to give to President Obama,
who wanted “to know everything we’re doing."
The message, from Page to Strzok, was among thousands of
texts between the lovers reviewed by Fox News. The pair both worked at one
point for Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe of alleged collusion between
the Trump campaign and Russia.
Page wrote to Strzok on Sept. 2, 2016, about prepping
Comey because "potus wants to know everything we're doing." According
to a newly released Senate report, this text raises questions about Obama's
personal involvement in the Clinton email investigation.
In texts previously revealed, Strzok and Page have
shown their disdain for Republicans in general, as well as Trump, calling him a
"f---ing idiot," among other insults.
Among the newly disclosed texts, Strzok also calls
Virginians who voted against then-FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe's wife for
a state Senate seat "ignorant hillbillys." (sic)
That text came from Strzok to Page on Nov. 4, 2015, the
day after Jill McCabe lost a hotly contested Virginia state Senate election.
Strzok said of the result, "Disappointing, but look at the district map.
Loudon is being gentrified, but it's still largely ignorant hillbillys. Good
for her for running, but curious if she's energized or never again."
Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., along with majority staff from
the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, is releasing
the texts, along with a report titled, “The Clinton Email Scandal and the FBI's
Investigation of it.”
The newly uncovered texts reveal a bit more about the
timing of the discovery of "hundreds of thousands" of emails on
former Congressman Anthony Weiner's laptop, ultimately leading to Comey's
infamous letter to Congress just days before the 2016 presidential election.
On Sept. 28, 2016, Strzok wrote to Page, "Got called
up to Andy's [McCabe] earlier.. hundreds of thousands of emails turned over by
Weiner's atty to sdny [Southern District of New York], includes a ton of
material from spouse [Huma Abedin]. Sending team up tomorrow to review... this
will never end."
According to the Senate report, this text message raises
questions about when FBI officials learned of emails relevant to the Hillary
Clinton email investigation on the laptop belonging to Weiner, the husband to
Clinton aide Huma Abedin.
It was a full month later, on Oct. 28, 2016, when Comey
informed Congress that, "Due to recent developments," the FBI was
re-opening its Clinton email investigation.
"In connection with an unrelated case, the FBI has
learned of the existence of emails that appear to be pertinent to the
investigation. I am writing to inform you that the investigative team briefed
me on this yesterday..." Comey said at the time.
The question becomes why Comey was only informed by his
investigative team on Oct. 27, if the Clinton emails on Weiner’s laptop
were discovered by Sept. 28, at the latest.
Other texts show more examples of the officials'
opposition to Trump.
On Election Day 2016, Page wrote, "OMG THIS IS
F***ING TERRIFYING." Strzok replied, "Omg, I am so depressed."
Later that month, on Nov. 13, 2016, Page wrote, "I bought all the
president's men. Figure I need to brush up on watergate."
The next day, Nov. 14, 2016, Page wrote, “God, being here
makes me angry. Lots of high fallutin’ national security talk. Meanwhile we
have OUR task ahead of us.”
Page’s meaning here is unclear, but Senate investigators
say, coupled with Strzok’s Aug. 15 text about an “insurance policy,” further
investigation is warranted to find out what actions the two may have taken.
The last text is from Page to Strzok, and comes on June
23, 2017, when she wrote, "Please don't ever text me again."
It's unclear whether she was mad at her friend, or if she
suddenly became aware that they, and their thousands of texts, had been
discovered.
Jake Gibson is a producer working at the Fox News
Washington bureau who covers politics, law enforcement and intelligence issues.
