Peter Strzok sues for reinstatement after his anti-Trump texts got him fired from the FBI
Former FBI Special Agent Peter Strzok wants his job back.
Strzok was a part of the FBI's probe into Russian election interference, but was transferred from the investigation and eventually fired after texts revealing his opposition to President Trump surfaced. But on Tuesday, Strzok filed a lawsuit alleging that he was "unlawfully" terminated and called for his reinstatement and back pay, The Washington Post reports.
Last year, the FBI's inspector general unearthed texts between Strzok and FBI lawyer Lisa Page in which he pledged to "stop" Trump from being elected. Republicans later grilled Strozk in an incredibly heated House hearing in which Strozk said his political leanings didn't influence his work. He was fired days later, and yet, nearly a year later, was brought up by Republicans in former Special Counsel Robert Mueller's July testimony.
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.
Since then, Strzok alleges in his lawsuit that he's been part of a "campaign to publicly vilify" him, which "contributed to the FBI’s ultimate decision to unlawfully terminate him." He also cites "frequent incidents of public and online harassment and threats of violence to Strzok and his family." The lawsuit names Attorney General William Barr and FBI Director Chris Wray as defendants, but they have not yet returned Politico's request for comment.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
The elite falcon trade in the Middle EastUnder the Radar Popularity of the birds of prey has been ‘soaring’ despite doubts over the legality of sourcing and concerns for animal welfare
-
A running list of the international figures Donald Trump has pardonedin depth The president has grown bolder in flexing executive clemency powers beyond national borders
-
Mixed nuts: RFK Jr.’s new nutrition guidelines receive uneven reviewsTalking Points The guidelines emphasize red meat and full-fat dairy
-
The billionaires’ wealth tax: a catastrophe for California?Talking Point Peter Thiel and Larry Page preparing to change state residency
-
Hegseth moves to demote Sen. Kelly over videospeed read Retired Navy fighter pilot Mark Kelly appeared in a video reminding military service members that they can ‘refuse illegal orders’
-
Trump says US ‘in charge’ of Venezuela after Maduro grabSpeed Read The American president claims the US will ‘run’ Venezuela for an unspecified amount of time, contradicting a statement from Secretary of State Marco Rubio
-
Bari Weiss’ ‘60 Minutes’ scandal is about more than one reportIN THE SPOTLIGHT By blocking an approved segment on a controversial prison holding US deportees in El Salvador, the editor-in-chief of CBS News has become the main story
-
CBS pulls ‘60 Minutes’ report on Trump deporteesSpeed Read An investigation into the deportations of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador’s notorious prison was scrapped
-
Trump administration posts sliver of Epstein filesSpeed Read Many of the Justice Department documents were heavily redacted, though new photos of both Donald Trump and Bill Clinton emerged
-
Trump HHS moves to end care for trans youthSpeed Read The administration is making sweeping proposals that would eliminate gender-affirming care for Americans under age 18
-
Jack Smith tells House of ‘proof’ of Trump’s crimesSpeed Read President Donald Trump ‘engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election,’ hoarded classified documents and ‘repeatedly tried to obstruct justice’
