FBI reportedly blames 'technical glitch' for missing texts between former Mueller probe agents
Thousands of cellphones given to FBI employees were unable to properly archive texts for months due to a "technical glitch," Fox News reported Wednesday, citing federal officials. The glitch prevented agents' messages from being "stored or uploaded into the bureau's archive system" — including messages exchanged by two former FBI employees who have emerged as central figures in the debate over Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation.
On Sunday, the Justice Department announced that the FBI was missing five months of texts between Special Agent Peter Strzok and bureau lawyer Lisa Page, both of whom briefly served on Mueller's team. Strzok was previously removed from the FBI probe after it was revealed that he had disparaged the president in texts he'd sent to Page; the two were romantically involved.
President Trump and his allies have pointed to Strzok and Page's texts as proof that FBI agents are biased against the president, and have questioned the FBI's claims about the missing messages. Their missing texts date from Dec. 14, 2016, to May 17, 2017 — a key period of time spanning Trump's inauguration and the firing of former FBI Director James Comey.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
But the FBI claims that a technical malfunction affected nearly 10 percent of its staff and caused a widespread loss of messages from thousands of agents, not just Strzok and Page, between June 2016 and May 2017, CBS News reported. CBS News additionally said that the technical issues with the FBI-issued Samsung 5 devices "[were] unique to each phone," causing lapses in archiving across different times for each agent.
Fox News reported that the Justice Department said it is "'taking steps' to possibly recover the texts."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kelly O'Meara Morales is a staff writer at The Week. He graduated from Sarah Lawrence College and studied Middle Eastern history and nonfiction writing amongst other esoteric subjects. When not compulsively checking Twitter, he writes and records music, subsists on tacos, and watches basketball.
-
Why Bhutan hopes tourists will put a smile back on its face
Under The Radar The 'kingdom of happiness' is facing economic problems and unprecedented emigration
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
7 beautiful towns to visit in Switzerland during the holidays
The Week Recommends Find bliss in these charming Swiss locales that blend the traditional with the modern
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
The Week contest: Werewolf bill
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
DOJ seeks breakup of Google, Chrome
Speed Read The Justice Department aims to force Google to sell off Chrome and make other changes to rectify its illegal search monopoly
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Racist texts tell Black people in US to prepare for slavery
Speed Read Recipients in at least a dozen states have been told to prepare to 'pick cotton' on slave plantations
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Australia proposes social media ban before age 16
Speed Read Australia proposes social media ban before age 16
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
FTC bans fake online product reviews
Speed Read The agency will enforce fines of up to $51,744 per violation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
States sue TikTok over children's mental health
Speed Read The lawsuit was filed by 13 states and Washington, D.C.
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Amazon ending 'Just Walk Out' grocery checkout
Speed Read In its place, the company will let customers scan while they shop with Amazon Dash Cart
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Justice Department bites Apple with iPhone suit
Speed Read The lawsuit alleges that the tech company monopolized the smartphone industry
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
House votes to force TikTok to sell or face US ban
speed read The House passed a bill to ban TikTok on national security grounds unless it sells to a non-Chinese company
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published