Two ranking House Democrats on Wednesday demanded lawmakers release the full, unreacted testimony of anti-Trump FBI agent Peter Strzok, claiming Republicans used the deposition to obstruct special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of Russian collusion in the 2016 election.
Democrat Reps. Elijah Cummings, Maryland, and Jerrold Nadler, New York, accused Republicans of asking Mr. Strzok more than 200 questions about the Mueller probe and less than five questions about Russian election interference.
Mr. Nadler called the Republicans’ investigation into bias by the Justice Department and FBI surrounding probes related to the 2016 election a “political charade” to “elevate far-right conspiracy theories.”
“Despite repeated promises by Republicans that they would not interfere with the ongoing criminal investigation being conducted by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, they asked hundreds of questions during our recent interview of Peter Strzok demonstrating that their investigation has become exactly that — an attempt to obstruct Special Counsel Mueller’s work and act as President Trump’s defense counsel,” Mr. Cummings said.
The two Democrats said the Republicans asked Mr. Strzok more than 10 questions about his voting practices, but no questions about whether Russia will attempt to influence the midterm elections.
Mr. Strzok, who was briefly part of Mr. Mueller’s team, made national headlines late last year when texts sent to his lover, former FBI attorney Lisa Page, were made public. The texts disparaged President Trump, calling him an “idiot” and “loathsome.”
Republican lawmakers have seized on a text in which Mr. Strzok discusses “an insurance policy” against the president and another in which he vowed to stop Mr. Trump from becoming president as evidence the Mueller investigation is biased.
Mr. Strzok is scheduled to testify Wednesday before both committees.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.