Firing Of Peter Strzock Is A Cowardly Capitulation To Dotard and GOP Quislings

Peter Strzok - 22 year veteran and former head of the FBI counterintelligence unit, the latest victim of Trump's covert purge on the Mueller investigation.


"One by one, the law enforcement and counter intelligence leadership actually in charge of the (Mueller) investigation - that has produced indictments - have been peeled off, destroyed in their careers. Director James Comey, Deputy Director Andy McCabe and now Peter Strzok's firing - the head of the FBI's counter intelligence division, added to the list."  Rachel Maddow last night.

We've  known for sometime that 22 year FBI veteran Peter Strzok has been a political punching bag for the Right's Trump-protecting extremists.  We knew that but didn't believe his own agency would kowtow to the traitors and toss him under the bus. But now with his firing  it's clear the Bureau totally capitulated to Trump and his GOP quislings who grilled Strzok in House hearings last month. The claim that  the firing was "by the book" is pure, unadulterated hog swill - not fit for intelligent consumption.

Recall in his stellar appearance last month, and despite all the wacko, unhinged Reeptard assaults on Strzok and his character -  even at one point threatening him with "contempt of congress" if he didn't answer a specific question (when he was forbidden to do so by the FBI)-   he kept his cool. In fact, more than kept his cool, in powerful, articulate rebuttals,  basically gutting all the GOP mean-spirited minnows with each response. Oh, as well as the riled rowdy Southern turd Trey Gowdy,

described aptly by one blogger as  "dripping so much venom against Strzok he needed a bedpan under his foaming lips". 

The ostensible PR reason for firing Strzok was an exchange of text messages with FBI colleague and lawyer Lisa Page. Page wrote in ome frenzied text: “[Trump’s] not ever going to become president, right? Right?!” Whereupon Strzok replied: “No. No he’s not. We’ll stop it."  

Indeed, Strzok gave an exhaustive explanation for the texts which fell totally within the purview of first amendment protections - which evidently his own Bureau doesn't believe in. He told the gathered lawmakers at the hearing:


"In terms of the text, 'we will stop it', you need to understand that was written off the cuff and in response to a series of events that dated from insulting an immigrant family whose son was a war hero.  And my presumption, based on this disgusting behavior, is that the American population would not allow someone demonstrating that behavior to become president of the United States. It was in no way, unequivocally, with any suggestion,  that me or the FBI would take any action to improperly impact the electoral process.  For any candidate. So I take great disagreement to your assertion to what that text was or wasn't.  That was clearly a statement made in jest and using hyperbole, realizing that millions of Americans were likely to vote for candidate Trump and I acknowledge that is absolutely in their right and that is what makes our democracy the process that it is.

But to expect to parse down a text like it's some sort of contract or talk is simply not consistent with my or most people's use of text messaging.

I can assure you, Mr. Chairman, at no time in any of these texts did those personal beliefs enter into the realm of any action I took. Furthermore, this isn't just me sitting here, so you don't have to take my word for it.  At every step, at every investigative decision, there were multiple layers of people above me, assistant director, deputy director, director of the F.B.I., and multiple layers of people below me, section chiefs, unit chiefs and analysts, all of whom were involved in all of these decisions. They would not tolerate any improper behavior in me anymore than I would tolerate it in them. That is who we are as the FBI. And the suggestion that I, in some dark chamber in the F.B.I., would somehow cast aside all of these procedures, all of these safeguards and somehow be able to do this is astounding to me.  It simply couldn’t happen. And the proposition that that is going on and it might occur anywhere in the FBI deeply corrodes what the FBI is in American society. The effectiveness of their mission and it is deeply destructive."

And  his most damning indictment of the day:

“I understand we are living in a political era in which insults and insinuation often drown out honesty and integrity. 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.'

Let me note here the inspector general’s office found no evidence that the attitudes reflected in the texts affected investigatory work, but said the pair’s text messages “cast a cloud” over the investigation into Clinton’s use of a private email server while she was secretary of state.  Trump and his allies nevertheless blasted Strzok, making him the poster boy for their claim that the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election is a “witch-hunt”. I suspected then, as now, the FBI acted precipitously in response - both to cut ties with Andrew McCabe, and now Strzok.

In Strzok's case the firing never should have been, and represents a historical miscarriage of justice by an agency that ought to have had his back. Yet it now appears to have knuckled under to the kooks and extremists of the GOP. Strzok’s lawyer,  Aitan Goelman,  said FBI deputy director David Bowdich ordered the firing on Friday – overruling the bureau’s office of professional responsibility and going against the recommendation of the career FBI official (Candace M. Will)  responsible for employee discipline.  Ms. Will  had said Strzok should be suspended for 60 days and stripped of his supervisory responsibilities.

Did Trump or one of his henchmen get to Bowdich? Did Devin Nunes or any of his gang play a role?  If so how? Inquiring minds want to know and there are many - especially after a super patriot is taken down.  In the words of Aitan Goelman, Strzok's lawyer:

“The decision to terminate was taken in response to political pressure, and to punish Special Agent Strzok for political speech protected by the first amendment, not on a fair and independent examination of the facts.”

Predictably, the Traitor Doh-Turd exulted over the firing, dispatching the typical excrement peculiar to this  lying thug:

“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!” 

Why wouldn't he exult, given the Mueller investigation's ancillary support leaders have been "peeled off" as Maddow noted (top quote).  As she puts it clearly then, deputy director David Bowdich has been an accessory after the fact in helping to carry out Trump's desires to eliminate the critical FBI staff as Mueller's noose closes in. There can be no other interpretation: it was a political hit job.  Don't believe me? Look at the list of those disposed of, shown in one graphic last night on Maddow's show, i.e. the corroborating witnesses for former Director Comey:

FBI Director - James Comey (FIRED)

FBI Deputy Director - Andrew McCabe (FIRED)

FBI Chief of Staff - James Rybicki  (Quit Under Fire) 

FBI General Counsel - James Baker (Quit Under Fire) 

FBI Deputy Director & Chief Counsel - Lisa Page (Quit Under Fire) 

FBI Exec, Director for National Security - Carl Ghattas (Quit Under Fire) 

FBI Assoc, Deputy Director: David Bowdich (STILL there) 

And we see that Bowdich, the only one still with a job, is the one who disposed of Strzok. Coincidence? You tell me.   As Maddow put it:

"With all of these guys picked off now, who's going to back up James Comey? Once you work your way through all the witnesses who might testify otherwise ...well, then you're free to tell any story you want regarding what happened between the president and the FBI Director."

In other words, one crucial thread of Mueller's investigation (to do with obstruction of justice) has been gutted from within, i.e. by domestic enemies. Bowdich? Don't make me laugh. He will probably be given the same ultimatum as with Strzok: "Do what I say or you will be gone next!"

WHO is the mysterious "I"? I'd place my bet on AG Jefferson Beauregard Sessions. Doing the traitor's dirty work from behind the scenes, when he's supposedly recused.   

One positive aspect of all this is that Peter Strzok's  GoFundMe page., to cover his legal expenses, has now topped a quarter million dollars. At least We the People are aware of the side of justice the latest victim of Trump's purge is on. And it is emphatically not the same side as Trump or his henchmen.

Righties Need To Get A Grip On DoJ Inspector General Report - I.e. Comey Helped Trump, Not Hillary

"B-but I duz still believe Rudy, dat FBI and Comey tried to get da Donald! DOH!"

 The just released DOJ Inspector General's report has the Righties twisting themselves into knots along with their panties, as they react without common sense or any insight.  For those who need the proverbial synopsis of the 568 page report by the IG (Michael Horowitz) it was perhaps best done in a text from political journalist John Harwood:

"To sum up, the Justice Dept, Inspector General concluded that bias did not affect Clinton email investigation, that the FBI had PROPER reasons for declining to prosecute here and that the only improper actions influencing the 2015 election were actions that damaged Clinton, not Trump."


  The IG correctly pointed out that James Comey, by coming out barely 10 days before the general election to blab about Hillary's emails,  "operated as not only the FBI Director, but also as the Attorney General". In other words, Comey - in his hyper moralistic, Boy Scout fervor-   usurped the role  of then Attorney General Loretta Lynch.    This intervention almost certainly triggered a 2-3 percent turnout differential in key states, which could have tossed the electoral count to Trump - along with some strategic hacking in the key states.

SO why are the Foxites and Righties going hair -on -fire nuts, as they "shame themselves" - to use Joe Scarborough's words this morning-   in trying to turn it into a plot against Trump?  Well, because these traitor lovers always have to find grievance and ways to slam the Mueller investigation - or undermine it- as they protect their little North Korean General- saluting bastard misfit.

 I told Janice that when the news came over the transom yesterday evening, she could make book on the Righties finding some way to try and twist the IG  report in their favor, as poor little victims of an FBI plot to take down the Dotard. These pseudo-conspiracy mongers never let potential fodder go to waste. And so it was last night we saw the Trumpian vampire known as Rudy Giuliani perform on cue.  The Nosferatu  vampire eery look -alike. e.g.

 barked and howled on FOX that former FBI agent Peter Strzok needs to "be locked up by the end of the week" and the Mueller probe needs to be halted.

And what, pray tell, was Strzock's crime? Well a text sent to his then girlfriend (and another agent) Lisa Page,  after she texted "Trump isn't going to become president, is he?"  And Strzock replied: "No, he isn't. We'll stop him."


Of course, anyone with sense or an IQ over room temperature digits knows that was just hollow bravado and boasting. Also, the agents' first amendment rights to political speech appear to have been forgotten or ignored (by both the IG and the FOXites. as well as Nosferatu Giuliani and Dotard).  The agents' "sin" was in using email belonging to the department not their own.  But as Jennifer Rubin pointed out last night: "They are allowed to have political views. They are allowed to discuss things with their friends."

 Besides, even the Inspector General found that Strzock's and Page's politically biased texts had absolutely no effect on the professional behavior of either agent.

Indeed,for the benefit of the conspiracy mongers,  the report plainly stated:

"We further found that in some instances Strzock and Page advocated for more aggressive investigative measures in the Midyear (Clinton) investigation,  such as the use of grand jury subpoenas and search warrants to obtain evidence."

Again, this was in connection with Hillary's emails, not  anything to do with Trump.  Hence, the only improper actions taken were those by Comey to discuss the Hillary Clinton  emails publicly.

Despite all this,  our commie-loving, Kim Jong Un - doting traitor resident went on Fox and Friends to insist the FBI was biased against him “at the top level” and was “plotting against my election”.

  Never mind the so-called "plot" - by two agents just blowing off steam (who actually wanted a more robust Clinton email investigation) -  actually catapulted a Russian stooge and traitor into power. A power now that we - real citizens- will have to fight with all our might to reclaim our Republic.  Until we do, I am certain my Revolutionary War ancestor Conrad Brumbaugh will be turning in his grave.

 "You is  a good pal, Donald! Now, I want you to salute my top General to show people you is my lap dog!
 
"I'm following orders from Mr. Kim, like I am from Mr. Putin, sir!"

See also:

• Award-winning cartoonist is fired after 25 years because of political cartoons critical of Trump