FBI/JUSTICE DEPARTMENT/ROBERT MUELLER/RUSSIA INVESTIGATION/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “Peter Strzok, the FBI agent who came under fire by President Donald Trump and other Republicans for sending text messages that disparaged the candidate during the presidential campaign, was fired late Friday [8-10-18], his attorney said on Monday [8-13-18]. Strzok is the third high-ranking person to be fired from the FBI during the Trump administration, including former Director James Comey. During his FBI career, he rose to deputy assistant director, focusing on counterintelligence. After Justice Department internal investigators found the texts, Strzok was reassigned from Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into the Trump campaign. The firing came after a lengthy internal investigation. Strzok’s attorney, Aitan Goelman, said in a statement that FBI Deputy Director David Bowdich made the decision to terminate his client. The decision, Goelman added, was at odds with a recommendation by the FBI’s Office of Professional Responsibility, which had called for Strzok to face a 60-day suspension and demotion from his supervisory responsibilities. He also said it goes against promises that FBI Director Christopher Wray has made in the past about adhering to the proper processes on personnel matters. A representative from the FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment.”
–Sarah N. Lynch, “FBI agent Strzok, who criticized Trump in text messages, is fired,” Reuters, August 13, 2018 8:49 am