# Peter Strzok: Comprehensive Research Report [[Crossfire Hurricane]] [[Lisa Page]] [[James Comey]] [[Andrew McCabe|Andrew McCabe]] [[Susan Rice]] ![[Peter Strozk Headshot.png]] ## FBI Career and Role **Peter Paul Strzok II** served in the [[FBI]] from 1996 to 2018, rising to become Deputy Assistant Director of the [[FBI]]'s Counterintelligence Division. During his 22-year career at the bureau, Strzok worked extensively on [counterintelligence operations targeting national security threats](https://www.lawfaremedia.org/contributors/pstrzok) from China, Russia, Iran, Cuba, and other adversaries. His responsibilities included countering state-sponsored disinformation, prosecuting acts of economic espionage and theft of intellectual property, and combating the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Prior to his [[FBI]] service, Strzok spent four years on active duty in the [U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division](https://www.lawfaremedia.org/contributors/pstrzok). He holds both master's and bachelor's degrees in international affairs from [Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service](https://www.lawfaremedia.org/contributors/pstrzok). **Key Investigative Roles:** - Led the [[FBI]]'s investigation into [[Hillary Clinton]]'s use of a private email server while she was [secretary of state](https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/12/politics/house-strzok-hearing-bickering) - Served as the [chief of the Counterespionage Section](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Strzok) within the [[FBI]]'s Counterintelligence Division - Led the [[FBI]]'s ["Operation Ghost Stories" against Russian sleeper agents](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compromised_\(book\)), including the arrest of [[Andrey Bezrukov]] and [[Yelena Vavilova]] in 2010 - Opened and initially led the [[Crossfire Hurricane]] investigation into [Russian interference in the 2016 election](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/fbi-agent-who-helped-launch-russia-investigation-says-trump-was-n1239442) Strzok received the [[FBI]]'s highest investigative honor, the Director's Award, for his distinguished service. ## Text Messages and Scandal The controversy that ultimately ended Strzok's [[FBI]] career centered on text messages he exchanged with [[FBI]] lawyer [[Lisa Page]] during the 2016 presidential campaign. The two were engaged in [an extramarital affair while working on high-profile investigations](https://nypost.com/2019/10/08/anti-trump-fbi-agents-lisa-page-peter-strzok-lied-about-affair-book-claims/) involving both [[Hillary Clinton]] and [[Donald Trump]]. **Content of the Messages:** The text messages contained harsh criticisms of [[Donald Trump]] and his supporters. Strzok and [[Lisa Page|Page]] referred to [[Donald Trump|Trump]] using derogatory terms including ["idiot," "loathsome," "menace," and "disaster"](https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/strzok-firing-fbi-1.4783182). In one particularly damaging exchange from August 2016, [[Lisa Page|Page]] texted Strzok: "(Trump's) not ever going to become President, right?" to which Strzok replied: ["No. No he's not. We'll stop it"](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/compromised-peter-strzok-on-investigating-the-trump-campaign/). Other controversial messages included Strzok's comment about visiting a ["southern Virginia Walmart" where he could "SMELL the Trump support"](https://www.npr.org/2020/09/05/908016924/peter-strzok-notorious-ex-g-man-explains-himself-and-takes-aim-at-trump). The [[DOJ|Justice Department]] inspector general's office recovered [9,311 messages from Strzok's phone and 10,760 from Page's phone](https://www.npr.org/2020/09/05/908016924/peter-strzok-notorious-ex-g-man-explains-himself-and-takes-aim-at-trump). **Public Release:** The text messages were [released to the media in December 2017](https://time.com/5767861/rod-rosenstein-text-messages-fbi-peter-strzok-lisa-page/) after being discovered by the [[DOJ|Justice Department]] inspector general's office during their [investigation into the Clinton email probe](https://www.politico.com/news/2019/12/10/lisa-page-sues-doj-fbi-text-messages-081001). Deputy Attorney General [[Rod Rosenstein]] [authorized the release](https://time.com/5767861/rod-rosenstein-text-messages-fbi-peter-strzok-lisa-page/), hoping to avoid prolonged selective disclosures and minimize the appearance of the Department concealing embarrassing information. ## Lisa Page Background [[Lisa Page]] was an [[FBI]] lawyer who served as Special Counsel to [[FBI]] Deputy Director [[Andrew McCabe]]. She was a [senior attorney at the FBI and a married mother of two](https://www.forbes.com/sites/patriciagbarnes/2019/12/11/has-lisa-page-inherited-the-mantle-from-monica-lewinsky/) when she began her extramarital affair with Strzok. [[Lisa Page|Page]] briefly worked on Special Counsel [[Robert Mueller]]'s team before [resigning from the FBI in 2018](https://www.politico.com/news/2019/12/10/lisa-page-sues-doj-fbi-text-messages-081001) amid the [text message controversy](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/two-ex-fbi-officials-traded-anti-trump-texts-close-settlement-alleged-rcna154444). **Initial Denial:** According to journalist [[James B. Stewart]]'s book "Deep State," [[Lisa Page|Page]] initially lied to [[FBI]] bosses about her relationship with Strzok. When Deputy Director [[Andrew McCabe]] approached her in [[December 2016]] about rumors of an affair, [[Lisa Page|Page]] "denied the two were romantically involved or had had an affair". She also reportedly told counterintelligence chief [[Bill Priestap]] that the affair rumors were not true. ## FBI Leadership Structure **[[Andrew McCabe]] as Strzok's Boss:** Deputy Director [[Andrew McCabe]] was [effectively Strzok's superior in the FBI hierarchy](https://www.politico.com/story/2019/05/20/mueller-investigation-mccabe-strzok-1336694). [[Andrew McCabe|McCabe]] revealed in a December 2017 congressional interview that he was [the one who made the decision to remove Strzok](https://www.politico.com/story/2019/05/20/mueller-investigation-mccabe-strzok-1336694) from [[Robert Mueller|Mueller]]'s special counsel team after learning about the text messages on [[July 27, 2017]]. [[Andrew McCabe|McCabe]] stated: ["I made the decision to remove him from the investigation that evening"](https://www.politico.com/story/2019/05/20/mueller-investigation-mccabe-strzok-1336694). **Other Key FBI Officials:** - **[[James Comey]]**: [[FBI]] Director during much of Strzok's tenure on the Clinton and Russia investigations - **[[Christopher Wray]]**: Became [[FBI]] Director after [[James Comey|Comey]]'s firing; ultimately allowed Strzok's termination to proceed - **[[David Bowdich]]**: [[FBI]] Deputy Director who made the [final decision to fire Strzok in August 2018](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-45173015) ## Firing and Circumstances **Timeline of Removal:** - July 2017: [Strzok was removed from Mueller's special counsel team](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Strzok) after the [text messages were discovered](https://www.politico.com/story/2019/05/20/mueller-investigation-mccabe-strzok-1336694) - August 2018: [Strzok was formally fired from the FBI](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-45173015) **The Firing Decision:** [[FBI]] Deputy Director [[David Bowdich]] made the [final decision to fire Strzok on August 10, 2018](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-45173015). This decision overruled the [[FBI]]'s Office of Professional Responsibility, which had [recommended only a 60-day suspension and demotion](https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/strzok-firing-fbi-1.4783182) from supervisory duties. Strzok's attorney argued that the [firing was politically motivated](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-45173015) and violated standard [[FBI]] procedures. **[[Donald Trump|Trump]]'s Influence:** President [[Donald Trump|Trump]] celebrated Strzok's firing, tweeting: ["Agent Peter Strzok was just fired from the FBI - finally. The list of bad players in the FBI & DOJ gets longer & longer"](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-45173015). Strzok's legal team argued that his termination was the result of ["unrelenting pressure" from Trump](https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/strzok-firing-fbi-1.4783182). ## Settlement with the FBI **Privacy Violations Lawsuit:** In July 2024, Strzok reached a [$1.2 million settlement with the Justice Department](https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/former-fbi-agent-peter-strzok-reaches-12-million/story?id=112318094) over claims that his privacy rights were violated when his [text messages were released to the media](https://www.npr.org/2024/07/28/g-s1-13933/fbi-lawsuit-justice-department-leaked-text-messages). [[Lisa Page]] received a [separate $800,000 settlement](https://www.npr.org/2024/07/28/g-s1-13933/fbi-lawsuit-justice-department-leaked-text-messages) for [similar privacy violations](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/peter-strzok-lisa-page-settle-lawsuits-justice-department-leaked-text-rcna163907). **Ongoing Legal Claims:** While the privacy settlement was resolved, Strzok continues to pursue [constitutional claims related to his firing](https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/former-fbi-agent-peter-strzok-reaches-12-million/story?id=112318094), arguing that his termination violated his First Amendment rights and was politically motivated. He is [seeking reinstatement to the FBI and back pay](https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/former-fbi-agent-peter-strzok-reaches-12-million/story?id=112318094). ## Crossfire Hurricane Investigation **Opening the Investigation:** Strzok was instrumental in opening the [[Crossfire Hurricane]] investigation into [Russian interference in the 2016 election](https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/499586-new-fbi-document-confirms-the-trump-campaign-was-investigated-without/). The investigation was launched based on information from Australian diplomat [[Alexander Downer]] about [[Donald Trump|Trump]] campaign advisor [[George Papadopoulos]]'s claims that [Russians had damaging material on Hillary Clinton](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/compromised-peter-strzok-on-investigating-the-trump-campaign/). **Durham Report Findings:** Special Counsel [[John Durham]]'s 2023 report was highly critical of how [[Crossfire Hurricane]] was initiated. [[John Durham|Durham]] found that at the direction of Deputy Director [[Andrew McCabe]], ["Peter Strzok opened Crossfire Hurricane immediately"](https://www.cato.org/blog/durham-report-trumps-vindication) without proper predication. The report stated that the [[FBI]] opened the investigation without speaking to the sources of information, reviewing intelligence databases, or conducting proper analytical review. **Unusual Documentation:** The opening document for [[Crossfire Hurricane]] was unusual in that it was [created, approved, and sent by Strzok to himself](https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/499586-new-fbi-document-confirms-the-trump-campaign-was-investigated-without/), violating normal [[FBI]] protocols that require independent oversight. ## Cable News Commentary **Frequent Media Appearances:** Since leaving the [[FBI]], Strzok has become a regular commentator on cable news, particularly CNN and MSNBC. Following the [[FBI]]'s raid on [[Donald Trump|Trump]]'s Mar-a-Lago residence in August 2022, [Strzok appeared at least 15 times in the first 15 days](https://www.foxnews.com/media/cnn-msnbc-raise-eyebrows-using-disgraced-fbi-agent-peter-strzok-as-expert-on-mar-a-lago-raid) on CNN and MSNBC combined, averaging once per day. **Specific Programs:** Strzok has appeared on numerous shows including [CNN's "Don Lemon Tonight," "CNN Newsroom with Jim Acosta," "New Day," and MSNBC's "Morning Joe," "The Beat with Ari Melber," "Deadline: White House," and "The ReidOut"](https://www.foxnews.com/media/cnn-msnbc-raise-eyebrows-using-disgraced-fbi-agent-peter-strzok-as-expert-on-mar-a-lago-raid). **Criticism of Media Appearances:** Conservative critics have questioned the appropriateness of networks using Strzok as an expert commentator given his controversial departure from the [[FBI]]. Legal scholar [[Jonathan Turley]] noted that ["Strzok appears liberated in showing precisely the bias and unhinged hostility alleged by his critics"](https://www.foxnews.com/media/cnn-msnbc-raise-eyebrows-using-disgraced-fbi-agent-peter-strzok-as-expert-on-mar-a-lago-raid). ## Books and Post-FBI Work **"Compromised" Book:** In September 2020, Strzok published ["Compromised: Counterintelligence and the Threat of Donald J. Trump"](https://www.politico.com/news/2020/07/28/ex-fbi-agent-trump-russia-book-383897) through [Houghton Mifflin Harcourt](https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/compromised-peter-strzok/1137408891). The book became a [New York Times and Washington Post bestseller](https://www.lawfaremedia.org/contributors/pstrzok). In it, Strzok argues that [[Donald Trump|Trump]] was compromised by Russia and poses a national security threat, though he admits he [found no evidence of a formal conspiracy](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/fbi-agent-who-helped-launch-russia-investigation-says-trump-was-n1239442) between the [[Donald Trump|Trump]] campaign and Russia. **Georgetown University Position:** Strzok currently serves as [an adjunct professor at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service](https://www.lawfaremedia.org/contributors/pstrzok), where he teaches [courses on counterintelligence theory and practice](https://thehoya.com/news/sfs-adds-former-fbi-agent-from-muellers-investigative-team-to-faculty-this-fall/). His hiring in 2020 drew [criticism from conservative media outlets](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/peter-strzok-fired-georgetown-doing-now). **Podcasting:** Strzok co-hosts the ["Cleanup on Aisle 45" podcast](https://the-back-room-with-andy-ostroy.podcast.radiofreerhinecliff.org/episodes/peter-strzok) with [[Allison Gill]] (AG) from Mueller, She Wrote. The podcast focuses on [[DOJ|Department of Justice]] and intelligence agency issues, particularly regarding accountability for the [[Donald Trump|Trump]] administration. Recently, the show has been [co-hosted with former Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn](https://www.audible.com/es_US/podcast/Cleanup-on-Aisle-45-with-AG-Pete-Strzok/B09YVS8NWC). ## Recent Public Statements and Activities **2024 Settlement Commentary:** Following his July 2024 settlement with the [[DOJ|Justice Department]], Strzok stated through his attorney: ["This outcome is a critical step forward in addressing the government's unfair and highly politicized treatment of Pete. As important as it is for him, it also vindicates the privacy interests of all government employees"](https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/former-fbi-agent-peter-strzok-reaches-12-million/story?id=112318094). **July 2025 [[David Frum]] Interview:** In a recent interview on ["The David Frum Show" for The Atlantic](https://www.theatlantic.com/podcasts/archive/2025/07/david-frum-show-peter-strzok-fbi/683547/), Strzok discussed concerns about the [[FBI]] being ["destroyed from within"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiF9DHOBGEw) during [[Donald Trump|Trump]]'s second term. He warned about [[Donald Trump|Trump]] loyalists like [[Kash Patel]] ([[FBI]] Director) and [[Dan Bongino]] (Deputy Director) dismantling the agency's national security functions, purging experts, and leaving the United States vulnerable to terrorism, foreign espionage, and cyberattacks. **Ongoing Litigation:** Strzok remains engaged in [ongoing litigation against the government](https://www.theatlantic.com/podcasts/archive/2025/07/david-frum-show-peter-strzok-fbi/683547/) over his 2018 firing, continuing to challenge the constitutionality of his termination. **Current Media Presence:** Strzok maintains an active presence in political commentary through his podcast, cable news appearances, and speaking engagements. He continues to be a vocal critic of [[Donald Trump|Trump]] and advocate for [[FBI]] independence and professionalism. ## Congressional Testimony **July 2018 House Hearing:** Strzok appeared before the House Judiciary and Oversight committees in a [contentious, 10-hour public hearing](https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/12/politics/house-strzok-hearing-bickering) that was described as one of the ["rowdiest House hearings ever"](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/5-takeaways-from-fbi-agent-peter-strzoks-explosive-congressional-hearing). During the hearing, Strzok was defiant in defending his actions, stating: ["I have the utmost respect for Congress's oversight role, but I truly believe that today's hearing is just another victory notch in [[Vladimir Putin|Putin]]'s belt"](https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/12/politics/house-strzok-hearing-bickering). **Refusal to Answer Questions:** Strzok frequently [refused to answer questions](https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/12/politics/house-strzok-hearing-bickering) during his congressional appearances, citing [[FBI]] instructions and ongoing investigations, which led to [Republican threats of contempt citations](https://laist.com/shows/airtalk/fbis-peter-strzok-gets-blasted-during-house-hearing-the-latest-on-nato-and-more). ## Inspector General Findings Multiple [[DOJ|Justice Department]] Inspector General reports examined Strzok's conduct: **Clinton Email Investigation (June 2018):** The IG found no evidence that Strzok's political opinions affected his work on the [[Hillary Clinton|Clinton]] email investigation, though the report criticized his text messages as inappropriate and said they ["cast a cloud over the FBI's handling"](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/peter-strzok-fired-georgetown-doing-now) of the investigation. **Russia Investigation Report (December 2019):** The [IG report on the Russia investigation](https://www.justice.gov/storage/120919-examination.pdf) found that while Strzok was directly involved in opening [[Crossfire Hurricane]] and the individual cases, his political bias did not impact the decision to open the investigation. However, the report was critical of various aspects of the investigation's conduct. This comprehensive research reveals Peter Strzok as a central figure in some of the most politically charged [[FBI]] investigations in recent history, whose career was ultimately derailed by personal text messages that became public. His post-[[FBI]] career has been dedicated to defending his actions, criticizing [[Donald Trump|Trump]], and educating others about counterintelligence threats to American democracy.