{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-seeks-clarity-justice-dept%E2%80%99s-response-political-texts", "Grassley Seeks Clarity on Justice Dept.\u2019s Response to Political Texts", "2017-12-14", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "IA", "Charles Grassley", "G000386", "www.grassley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senior FBI staffs\u2019 \u201cinsurance policy\u201d and \u201cHillary\u201d texts raise specter of political Influence \u00a0 WASHINGTON \u2013 Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley sought additional background on text messages exchanged between two senior FBI employees and records of their communications with the current FBI Deputy Director.\u00a0 One of the employees, Peter Strzok, played a critical role in the FBI\u2019s investigation into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton\u2019s use of a private email server for official business and mishandling of classified information.\u00a0 He also appears to be involved in helping to launch the FBI\u2019s investigation into potential collusion between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin during the 2016 presidential election. \u00a0 The text messages provided to Congressional investigators on the eve of testimony by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who is overseeing the special counsel\u2019s investigation, appear to indicate that some officials took actions beyond expressing their political opinions.\u00a0 One message by Strzok apparently referenced a discussion in the current deputy director\u2019s office about the chances that candidate Donald Trump could be elected, saying \u201cI\u2019m afraid we can\u2019t take that risk\u201d and making a comparison to the need for an insurance policy. Another missive referenced a second phone used to \u201ctalk about hillary because it can\u2019t be traced.\u201d \u00a0 In a letter Wednesday to Rosenstein, Grassley is seeking additional information, including when and how the department became aware of the politically-charged messages, and what steps are being taken to fully review the activities referenced in the messages and take any necessary disciplinary measures. \u00a0In October, Grassley sought an interview with Strzok as a part of his ongoing investigation into improper political influence or bias in the Justice Department or FBI. Grassley called on the FBI to turn over any documents related to Strzok\u2019s work and communications following reports of the political messages.\u00a0 \u00a0 December 13, 2017 \u00a0 VIA ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION \u00a0 The Honorable Rod J. Rosenstein Deputy Attorney General U.S. Department of Justice 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20530 \u00a0 Dear Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein: \u00a0Yesterday, the Justice Department released a subset of text messages requested by the Committee.\u00a0 The limited release of 375 text messages between Mr. Peter Strzok and Ms. Lisa Page indicate a highly politicized FBI environment during both the Clinton and Russia investigations.\u00a0 For example, one text message from Ms. Page proclaims to Mr. Strzok, \u201cGod(,) Trump is a loathsome human.\u201d[1]\u00a0\u00a0 Some of these texts appear to go beyond merely expressing a private political opinion, and appear to cross the line into taking some official action to create an \u201cinsurance policy\u201d against a Trump presidency.\u00a0 Mr. Strzok writes the following to Ms. Page: \u00a0I want to believe the path you threw out for consideration in Andy\u2019s office \u2013 that there\u2019s no way he gets elected \u2013 but I\u2019m afraid we can\u2019t take that risk.\u00a0 It\u2019s like an insurance policy in the unlikely event you die before you\u2019re 40\u2026[2]\u00a0Presumably, \u201cAndy\u201d refers to Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe.\u00a0 So whatever was being discussed extended beyond just Page and Strzok at least to Mr. McCabe, who was involved in supervising both investigations.[3]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Another text from Ms. Page to Mr. Strzok on April 2, 2016, says the following: \u00a0 So look, you say we text on that phone when we talk about hillary because it can\u2019t be traced, you were just venting bc you feel bad that you\u2019re gone so much but it can\u2019t be helped right now. \u00a0 That text message occurred during Mr. Strzok\u2019s involvement in the Clinton investigation and days before he interviewed Huma Abedin and Cheryl Mills on April 5, 2016 and April 9, 2016, respectively.\u00a0 Thus, the mention of \u201chillary\u201d may refer to Secretary Clinton and therefore could indicate that Mr. Strzok and Ms. Page engaged in other communications about an ongoing investigation on a different phone in an effort to prevent it from being traced.\u00a0 \u00a0 Any improper political influence or motives in the course of any FBI investigation must be brought to light and fully addressed.\u00a0 Former Director Comey\u2019s claims that the FBI \u201cdoesn\u2019t give a rip about politics\u201d certainly are not consistent with the evidence of discussions occurring in the Deputy Director\u2019s office around August 15, 2016.\u00a0 \u00a0 Accordingly, please answer the following no later than December 27, 2017: On what date did you become aware of the text messages between Mr. Strzok and Ms. Page and on what date were they each removed from the Special Counsel\u2019s office?Are there any other records relating to the conversation in Andrew McCabe\u2019s office shortly before the text described above on August 15, 2016?\u00a0 If so please produce them to the Committee.Please provide all records relating to Andrew McCabe\u2019s communications with Peter Strzok or Lisa Page between August 7, 2016 and August 23, 2016.What steps have you taken to determine whether Mr. Strzok, Mr. Page, and Mr. McCabe should face disciplinary action for their conduct?My understanding is that the Inspector General\u2019s current investigation is limited to the handling of the Clinton email matter only.\u00a0 What steps have you taken to determine whether steps taken during the campaign to escalate the Russia investigation might have been a result of the political animus evidenced by these text messages rather than on the merits?Has the Department identified the referenced \u201cthat phone\u201d Mr. Strzok and Ms. Page used to discuss Secretary Clinton? What steps has the Department taken to review the records on this other phone that allegedly \u201ccan\u2019t be traced.\u201d\u00a0 If none, please explain why not?\u00a0 If steps have been taken, please detail them and provide all records reviewed. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I anticipate that your written reply and any responsive documents will be unclassified. \u00a0 Please send all unclassified material directly to the Committee. In keeping with the requirements of Executive Order 13526, if any of the responsive documents do contain classified information, please segregate all unclassified material within the classified documents, provide all unclassified information directly to the Committee, and provide a classified addendum to the Office of Senate Security. Although the Committee complies with all laws and regulations governing the handling of classified information, it is not bound, absent its prior agreement, by any handling restrictions. \u00a0 Should you have any questions, please contact Josh Flynn-Brown of my Judiciary Committee staff at (202) 224-5225.\u00a0 \u00a0 Sincerely, \u00a0 \u00a0 Charles E. Grassley\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Chairman\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Committee on the Judiciary \u00a0 \u00a0 cc:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Honorable Michael E. Horowitz \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Inspector General \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 U.S. Department of Justice \u00a0 \u00a0 -30-\u00a0  [1] Laura Jarrett, Months-worth of FBI employees\u2019 texts dreading Trump victory released to Congress, CNN (Dec. 13, 2017)[3] Recently, I have written to the Justice Department several times regarding my concerns about Mr. McCabe\u2019s potential conflicts of interest.\u00a0 Letter from Hon. Charles E. Grassley, Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee, to Hon. James B. Comey, Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation (October 28, 2016);\u00a0 Letter from Hon. Charles E. Grassley, Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee, to Hon. James B. Comey, Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation (March 28, 2017);\u00a0 Letter from Hon. Charles E. Grassley, Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee, to Hon. Rod J. Rosenstein, Deputy Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice (May 2, 2017);\u00a0 Letter from Hon. Charles E. Grassley, Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee, to Hon. Rod J. Rosenstein, Deputy Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice (June 28, 2017);\u00a0 Letter from Hon. Charles E. Grassley, Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee, to Hon. Michael E. Horowitz, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Justice (June 29, 2017);\u00a0 Letter from Hon. Charles E. Grassley, Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee, to Hon. Rod J. Rosenstein, Deputy Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice (December 1, 2017)", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-seeks-clarity-justice-dept%E2%80%99s-response-political-texts"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5665579121559858, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}