A federal judge has dismissed Peter Strzok’s lawsuit alleging that his First Amendment rights were violated when he was fired from the FBI during the Trump administration. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson, an appointee of the previous president, found no evidence supporting Strzok’s claim. Strzok, a counterintelligence agent, had argued that his termination was retaliation for criticizing Trump through a series of text messages.
Strzok’s texts, exchanged with a colleague, conveyed disdain for Trump and included discussions about an “insurance policy” to prevent him from gaining office. In one message, Strzok expressed, “I want to believe the path you threw out for consideration… that there’s no way [Trump] gets elected… I’m afraid we can’t take that risk.” Another message indicated Strzok’s intent to undermine Trump, stating, “We’ll stop” Trump from becoming president. Such remarks fueled claims that his engagement in the Trump-Russia investigation was compromised by personal bias.
In her ruling, Judge Jackson noted that Strzok’s legal team failed to prove that his firing violated his constitutional rights, which underscores the complexities surrounding federal employment and free speech. Over the years, Strzok’s case has drawn significant attention, particularly in the context of the Justice Department’s handling of politically charged investigations.
Last year, the Justice Department reached a $1.2 million settlement with Strzok regarding the unauthorized disclosure of his anti-Trump text messages. Strzok contended that his messages to his then-paramour, Lisa Page, had been unlawfully disclosed, highlighting the ongoing legal battles stemming from his tenure at the FBI.
Strzok was dismissed from the FBI in 2018 after an internal investigation identified breaches of policy linked to his participation in the Crossfire Hurricane probe, which investigated alleged ties between the Trump campaign and Russian interference in the 2016 election. Judge Jackson’s decision to dismiss the lawsuit reflects a broader judicial reluctance to engage with claims that could potentially overstep the boundaries of employment law and constitutional free speech.
This latest ruling is yet another chapter in the legal saga surrounding Strzok, a figure who has become emblematic of the tensions within the FBI during an intensely polarized political landscape.
"*" indicates required fields
