In a sharp back-and-forth between Strzok and Gowdy, Strzok denied that he was removed from Mueller’s team because of his anti-Trump sentiment but rather for the “appearance” of bias. “Would we be where we are today? The only honest answer is an absolute affirmative, ‘yes.’” “In fact, for those who think we are wasting time in this committee, suppose all of this had been said about candidate Obama before he was elected, or even more topical, about Hillary Clinton while she was running in the same election,” Goodlatte said. Mueller removed Strzok after DOJ inspector general Michael Horowitz uncovered Strzok’s messages.Įarlier, Strzok sat stone-faced while Goodlatte blasted his conduct and read aloud a litany of Strzok’s incendiary text messages, from saying “F- Trump” to “Trump is a disaster.” He sat similarly silent while lawmakers referenced his intimate relationship with Page. Strzok played a central role in the FBI investigation of Hillary Clinton’s private email server and the Russia probe and even briefly joined special counsel Robert Mueller’s team. I am sorry and deeply regretful for that.“ “I am sorry for these texts and the way they’ve been used, for the harm and hurt they’ve caused my family, for the perception of people in the public. Strzok expressed regret at the hearing for his actions and the collateral damage it did. Strzok indicated in one 2016 message that Trump wouldn’t become president because “we’ll stop it.” The two shared critiques of figures on both sides of the aisle but saved their most intense vitriol for Trump. Trump and GOP allies have fixated on Strzok after a series of text messages revealed deep anti-Trump sentiment from Strzok and former FBI attorney Lisa Page. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.) accused Gowdy of engaging in “harassment” of Strzok. Jerrold Nadler of New York, the top Judiciary Committee Democrat, to adjourn the hearing. The dispute resulted in bickering and shouting among members and an attempt by Rep. “I do not believe I am here under subpoena,” Strzok replied.ĭemocrats repeatedly interrupted and demanded answers for how Goodlatte could instruct him to defy his employer, the FBI, to answer a question about an ongoing investigation. “You are under subpoena,” Goodlatte said. House Judiciary Chairman Goodlatte quickly interjected and ordered Strzok to answer the question or risk contempt proceedings. 8, 2016 - and Strzok said FBI counsel instructed him not to discuss the ongoing probe. In his first question, House Oversight Chairman Trey Gowdy pressed Strzok on how many witnesses he had interviewed in the first eight days of the Russia probe - from July 31, 2016, to Aug. Soon after, the hearing degenerated into a partisan morass. “I have the utmost respect for Congress’s oversight role, but I truly believe that today’s hearing is just another victory notch in Putin’s belt and another milestone in our enemies’ campaign to tear America apart,” he said. And he took a swing at congressional Republicans for targeting him as the bad guy. Strzok instead cast his decision to help launch and lead the FBI investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election as an act of patriotism in defense of American democracy.
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