Top House GOPer Threatens Strzok With Contempt Minutes Into Questioning

[DonViejo]

Source: Talking Points Memo


By Tierney Sneed | July 12, 2018 11:15 am

Minutes into lawmakers’ questioning of Peter Strzok, the FBI official under fire for anti-Donald Trump texts, House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) threatened to hold Strzok in contempt for declining to answer Oversight Chairman Trey Gowdy’s question about the FBI’s Russia probe.

Gowdy had asked how many people Strzok interviewed for the probe in the first week or so of the investigation. Strzok told Gowdy he was under instruction from the FBI not to answer questions about the ongoing Russian investigation.

Goodlatte jumped into to press Strzok to answer the question. Strzok continued to cite the FBI’s instructions.

“Mr. Strzok, please be advised that you can either comply with the committee’s directive to answer the question or refuse to do so. The latter of which will place you at risk of a contempt citation and potential criminal liability,” Goodlatte said. “Do you understand that?”

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Read more: https://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/top-house-gopers-threatens-strzok-with-contempt-minutes-into-questioning

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GOP lawmakers threaten FBI agent Peter Strzok with contempt for refusing to answer questions on Mueller probe

By Devlin Barrett and Karoun Demirjian
July 12 at 11:19 AM

Republicans sparred with FBI agent Peter Strzok from the very first question at a hearing Thursday over politically charged investigations, threatening him with a contempt citation for refusing, at the direction of an FBI lawyer, not to answer questions about the ongoing investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Strzok, who was the lead agent on FBI probes into Hillary Clinton and the Trump campaign and is now the subject of an internal misconduct probe, was asked by Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, how many individuals he interviewed in the first week of the Russia probe in the summer of 2016.

“I will not, based on direction of the FBI… answer that question, because it goes to matters which are related to the ongoing investigations being undertaken by the special counsel’s office,” Strzok replied, at a joint hearing of the Judiciary and Oversight committees.

At that point, Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), chairman of the Judiciary Committee, interjected, threatening Strzok with a contempt citation if he did not answer the question.

“Mr. Strzok, you are under subpoena and are required to answer the question,” Goodlatte said.

Democrats immediately challenged Goodlatte, accusing him of treating Strzok unfairly, and seeking unsuccessfully to adjourn the hearing.

more
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/embattled-fbi-agent-to-appear-before-congress/2018/07/11/7754ad14-854e-11e8-8553-a3ce89036c78_story.html

[exboyfil]

1. And tried to keep him from consulting with the FBI Attorney

who instructed him not to answer specific questions about ongoing investigations. I can't even imagine it.

[aggiesal]

2. They just want this info ...

to defend IQ45.

[bluestarone]

5. THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bucolic_frolic]

3. Twitter is abuzz with this subject

some calling it chaos

'Do what I want or else" to a public official who served in the FBI. Maybe they can get away with it in Congress. Sure wouldn't pass muster in legal circles.

coercion. intimidation. extortion. to dance around the subject. obtaining something through threats.

[bluestarone]

4. What a corrupt bunch of bastards!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[duforsure]

6. I suspect what this will cause,

After seeing the outrageous conduct by the GOP in this meeting , this will only increase the chances both the House and the Senate WILL be retaken control of by the Democrats this Nov. election. Then they will be forced to hear the truth , and suffer the consequences for their corruption . This will backfire badly on the gop . No respect for anything , or anyone shows their contempt for the American people. trump and the gop are nothing but puppets for putin now.

[still_one]

8. I hope you are right

[RoBear]

10. ME, TOO!

As for Trump: LOCK HIM UP!

(Have to say that once or day or my innards back up on me!)

[ananda]

14. Me three!

Lock him up!!!!!

[still_one]

7. NEVER AGAIN CAN THE REPUBLICANS CLAIM THAT THE DEMOCRATS HATE AMERICA, BECAUSE THEY HAVE AND ARE

DEMONSTRATING JUST WHICH PARTY HATES AMERICA

[beachbum bob]

9. I get up and walk out and then go talk to the media

this is what a real witch hunt looks like would be my message

[SDJay]

11. They Have Their Own Asses

to cover. Yes, this is partially about defending Dump, but I'm sure there are things they want buried forever about many of themselves as well.

I have a feeling, based on the conduct of people other than Dump, that if this thing ever fully unravels we'll see dozens, if not more, corrupt fuckers hauled off to jail.

As said upthread, the only way that happens is with a Blue Wave this November.

[Snellius]

12. Video:

Link to tweet

[yallerdawg]

13. Watching the Watergate hearings made me a lifelong Democrat.

Keep up the good work, Republican assholes!

[Mc Mike]

15. The repug nazi traitor caucus is really going for the gusto, here.

[forgotmylogin]

16. Can he be held in contempt?

If he's there voluntarily? There is no subpoena involved.

Bannon got to deflect under subpoena.

[Cold War Spook]

17. Can't he just say,

I will tell you that some people are saying, I don't know that it is true, that many Republican Senators and members of the House may be involved with certain Russia mob figures. Shall I tell you their names now?

[WinstonSmith4740]

19. Oh, that's good!

Unfortunately, the nuance would be lost on this band of Rethug cretins.

[BillyBobBrilliant]

18. How can the call a Bottom

Feeder, a 'Top House GOPer?'

[Midnight Writer]

20. So, it is contempt if he doesn't answer, or illegal leak about ongoing investigation if he does? BS!

[Snellius]

21. Just when you thought Repubs couldn't sink any deeper in their shit, this:

Link to tweet