Current:Home > FinanceTwo ex-FBI officials who traded anti-Trump texts close to settlement over alleged privacy violations-InfoLens
Two ex-FBI officials who traded anti-Trump texts close to settlement over alleged privacy violations
View Date:2024-12-23 11:38:56
WASHINGTON (AP) — Two former FBI officials have reached a tentative settlement with the Justice Department to resolve claims that their privacy was violated when the department leaked to the news media text messages that they had sent one another that disparaged former President Donald Trump.
The tentative deal was disclosed in a brief court filing Tuesday that did not reveal any of the terms.
Peter Strzok, a former top FBI counterintelligence agent who helped lead the bureau’s investigation into potential ties between Russia and Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, was fired in 2018 after the anti-Trump text messages came to light. Lisa Page, a former FBI lawyer, voluntarily resigned that same year.
They alleged in federal lawsuits filed in the District of Columbia that the Justice Department infringed on their privacy rights when officials, in December 2017, shared copies of their communication with reporters — including messages that described Trump as an “idiot” and a ”loathsome human” and that called the prospect of a Trump victory “terrifying.”
Strzok also sued the department over his termination, alleging that the FBI caved to “unrelenting pressure” from Trump when it fired him and that his First Amendment rights were violated. Those constitutional claims have not been resolved by the tentative settlement, according to the court notice.
Trump, who publicly championed Strzok’s firing and accused him of treason, was questioned under oath last year as part of the long-running litigation.
The text messages were discovered by the Justice Department inspector general’s office as it scrutinized the FBI’s investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server as secretary of state.
Strzok was a lead agent in that probe as well, and he notes in his lawsuit that the inspector general found no evidence that political bias tainted the email investigation. Even so, the text messages resulted in Strzok being removed from the special counsel team conducting the Trump-Russia investigation and helped drive criticism by Trump that the inquiry was a politically motivated “witch hunt.”
The inspector general identified numerous flaws with that probe but did not find find evidence that any of those problems could be attributed to partisan bias.
Lawyers for Strzok and Page declined to comment Tuesday night. A Justice Department spokesman also declined to comment, but the department has previously said that officials determined that it was permissible to share with the media text messages that were also disclosed to members of Congress.
veryGood! (734)
Related
- Taylor Swift drops Christmas merchandise collection, including for 'Tortured Poets' era
- Powerful winter storm brings strong winds and heavy snow, rain to northeastern U.S.
- Margot Robbie, Taylor Swift and More Best Dressed Stars at the Golden Globes 2024
- 'The Bear' star Ayo Edebiri gives flustered, heartwarming speech: Watch the moment
- Reds honor Pete Rose with a 14-hour visitation at Great American Ball Park
- Bills vs. Dolphins Sunday Night Football: Odds, predictions, how to watch, playoff picture
- ‘Soldiers of Christ’ killing unsettles Korean Americans in Georgia and stokes fear of cults
- Rams vs. Lions playoff preview: Matthew Stafford, Jared Goff face former teams in wild-card round
- Ariana Grande Shares Dad's Emotional Reaction to Using His Last Name in Wicked Credits
- 2024 Golden Globes: Dua Lipa Weighs in on Her Future Acting Career After Barbie
Ranking
- 3 Iraqis tortured at Abu Ghraib win $42M judgement against defense contractor
- Norwegian mass killer begins second attempt to sue state for alleged breach of human rights
- Emma Stone Makes Rare, Heartfelt Comment About Husband Dave McCary at the 2024 Golden Globes
- Love comes through as Packers beat Bears 17-9 to clinch a playoff berth
- Tuskegee University closes its campus to the public, fires security chief after shooting
- Ariana Grande teases fans with new music release this Friday
- Judith Light and 'Last of Us' actors are first-time winners at Creative Arts Emmy Awards
- Thousands forced from homes by quake face stress and exhaustion as Japan mourns at least 161 deaths
Recommendation
-
Lady Gaga Joins Wednesday Season 2 With Jenna Ortega, So Prepare to Have a Monster Ball
-
Eagles rock LA homecoming for Long Goodbye tour, knock nearby 'spaceship' SoFi Stadium
-
Mega Millions jackpot at $140 million for January 5 drawing; See winning numbers
-
Golden Globes winners 2024: Follow the list in live time
-
Katherine Schwarzenegger Gives Birth, Welcomes Baby No. 3 With Chris Pratt
-
Great Lakes ice season off to slowest start in 50 years of records. Why that matters.
-
Norwegian mass killer begins second attempt to sue state for alleged breach of human rights
-
Jennifer Aniston's Golden Globes Haircut Is the New Rachel From Friends