Anti-Trump FBI agent Peter Strzok said Thursday that he will not authorize the release of any personal texts he exchanged with his lover, former FBI lawyer Lisa Page.
When questioned by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, Virginia Republican, Mr. Strzok said he would only make his work-related text messages available for public scrutiny.
Mr. Goodlatte tried to drill down, asking how Congress could separate his personal texts from his work ones. Mr. Strzok said the Justice Department Inspector General was able to make that determination.
“The Inspector General is an entirely different body from Congress,” Mr. Goodlatte said.
Asking again, if he would release his personal texts, Mr. Strzok refused.
“No, sir,” he said in response to Mr. Goodlatte’s question.
Mr. Strzok and Ms. Page exchange more than 50,000 text messages, the Justice Department said in January. Many of the texts discussed FBI investigations and some texts disparaged President Trump, calling him “loathsome” and “an idiot.”
Mr. Strzok is testifying as part of the House Judiciary and Oversight and Government Reform committees’ investigation into allegations of political bias involving the Justice Department and FBI during separate probes of both 2016 presidential candidates.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.
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