Justice Department Settles with Ex-FBI Officials Caught in Anti-Trump Text Scandal

The Department of Justice has settled with two former FBI officials, Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, over the release of their anti-Trump text messages. Strzok received $1.2 million, while Page received $800,000 in the settlement.

The Department of Justice has reached a settlement with two former FBI officials, Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, who had sued the government over the release of their text messages expressing contempt for former President Donald Trump.

Justice Department Settles with Ex-FBI Officials Caught in Anti-Trump Text Scandal

According to court documents, Strzok settled his case for $1.2 million, while Page received $800,000.

In their lawsuits, Strzok and Page argued that the release of their text messages violated their privacy rights. The government maintained that the release of the messages was in the public interest, as they shed light on the FBI's handling of the investigations into both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

Justice Department Settles with Ex-FBI Officials Caught in Anti-Trump Text Scandal

Strzok, once the FBI's head of counterintelligence, argued that his anti-Trump messages were protected by the First Amendment, even though he sent them on bureau-issued phones while playing a leading role in the investigations.

In a statement, Strzok's lawyer, Aitan Goelam, said, "This outcome is a critical step forward in addressing the government's unfair and highly politicized treatment of Pete."

Justice Department Settles with Ex-FBI Officials Caught in Anti-Trump Text Scandal

"As important as it is for him, it also vindicates the privacy interests of all government employees. We will continue to litigate Pete's constitutional claims to ensure that, in the future, public servants are protected from adverse employment actions motivated by partisan politics."

Page, who was the FBI's legal counsel at the time, also argued that the release of her text messages violated the Federal Privacy Act.

Justice Department Settles with Ex-FBI Officials Caught in Anti-Trump Text Scandal

In her statement, Page said, "While I have been vindicated by this result, my fervent hope remains that our institutions of justice will never again play politics with the lives of their employees."

The settlement between the Justice Department and Strzok and Page is the latest chapter in the ongoing saga surrounding the FBI's investigations into Clinton and Trump.

The text messages between Strzok and Page, which were released in 2017, showed that they had a strong dislike for Trump and raised questions about the FBI's impartiality during the election.

The release of the text messages led to Strzok being fired from the FBI and Page resigning.

The Justice Department's decision to settle with Strzok and Page follows a series of setbacks for the former FBI officials in court.

In 2021, a federal judge dismissed Strzok's First Amendment lawsuit, ruling that his anti-Trump text messages were not protected speech.

Page's lawsuit is still pending.

The settlement between the Justice Department and Strzok and Page is a significant victory for the former FBI officials, who have maintained that they were unfairly targeted by the government.

The settlement also raises questions about the government's handling of sensitive information and the potential for political interference in law enforcement.