People have bafflingly donated nearly $300,000 to Peter Strzok's GoFundMe
If former FBI agent Peter Strzok had any money problems, the #resistance has almost certainly helped solve them.
Strzok was fired from the bureau Friday, after the FBI's inspector general found he had sent text messages to FBI lawyer Lisa Page that revealed antipathy toward President Trump. Strzok's lawyer announced the dismissal Monday, and by midday Tuesday, a GoFundMe online fundraiser had already rounded up more than $290,000 to cover Strzok's "hefty — and growing — legal costs and his lost income."
The fundraiser, set up by the "friends of special agent Peter Strzok," characterizes Strzok's firing as "highly politicized," saying "he needs your help" to overcome the difficulties of his dismissal, though it's unclear exactly what legal costs have been incurred. Strzok tweeted his thanks for the "extraordinary outpouring of support" from "thousands of fellow everyday citizens." Those everyday citizens poured more than 7,000 donations into Strzok's legal fund, with many donors contributing between $5 and $25.
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Strzok, as a 22-year veteran of the bureau, was likely making a six-figure salary. But the GoFundMe notes that he's "not a wealthy lobbyist and he's not interested in using his notoriety for personal gain," so he apparently doesn't have the "deep pockets" he'll need to defend himself. His pockets have certainly been deepened now — the fundraiser already exceeded its original goal of $150,000, and is well on its way to surpassing the new $350,000 goal.
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Summer Meza has worked at The Week since 2018, serving as a staff writer, a news writer and currently the deputy editor. As a proud news generalist, she edits everything from political punditry and science news to personal finance advice and film reviews. Summer has previously written for Newsweek and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, covering national politics, transportation and the cannabis industry.
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