by digby
We'd all wondered why this guy was demoted and now we know.
Special counsel Robert Mueller removed a senior FBI official from his team in the Russia probe after learning of anti-Trump text messages that could be used to undermine the investigation’s credibility, The Washington Post reports. Citing several sources familiar with the situation, the report says Peter Strzok, the former deputy head of counter-intelligence at the FBI, was taken off the investigation this summer over text message exchanges with FBI lawyer Lisa Page, who worked for Deputy Director Andrew McCabe and was also working with Mueller. The pair, who were reportedly having an affair, had exchanged a series of text messages throughout both the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s private email server and the ongoing probe into possible collusion between Russia and Trump’s campaign. Multiple sources cited in the report said these messages revealed an obvious anti-Trump bias on both sides, which Mueller feared could be used by the president’s supporters in Congress to challenge the findings of the Russia investigation. Strzok was subsequently demoted to a job in human resources, while Page left Mueller’s team in July, before the text messages surfaced, according to the report.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who has recused himself from matters relating to the Russia investigation, said in a statement that if proven to be true the agent's actions "would raise serious questions of public trust."
"My job is to restore confidence in the Department of Justice in all aspects of our work and I intend to do so," said Sessions, whose recusal following revelations that he had failed to disclose meetings with Russia's ambassador to the U.S effectively paved the way for the appointment of Mueller as special counsel.
"As such, I have directed that the FBI Director review the information available on this and other matters and promptly make any necessary changes to his management and investigative teams consistent with the highest professional standards."
