Trump: Strzok ‘given poor marks’ on congressional testimony

President Trump said in a tweet early Thursday that FBI agent Peter Strzok was given “poor marks” during his closed-door testimony before the House Judiciary and Oversight and Government Reform committees, and repeated his claim that the Russia investigation is “a witch hunt.” 

{mosads}”Lover FBI Agent Peter Strzok was given poor marks on yesterday’s closed door testimony and, according to most reports, refused to answer many questions. There was no Collusion and the Witch Hunt, headed by 13 Angry Democrats and others who are totally conflicted, is Rigged!” Trump said. 

Lover FBI Agent Peter Strzok was given poor marks on yesterday’s closed door testimony and, according to most reports, refused to answer many questions. There was no Collusion and the Witch Hunt, headed by 13 Angry Democrats and others who are totally conflicted, is Rigged!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 28, 2018

“Peter Strzok worked as the leader of the Rigged Witch Hunt for a long period of time – he got it started and was only fired because the gig was up,” Trump added in a subsequent tweet. “But remember, he took his orders from Comey and McCabe and they took their orders from you know who. Mueller/Comey best friends!”

Peter Strzok worked as the leader of the Rigged Witch Hunt for a long period of time – he got it started and was only fired because the gig was up. But remember, he took his orders from Comey and McCabe and they took their orders from you know who. Mueller/Comey best friends!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 28, 2018

Strzok was grilled on Capitol Hill over his text messages with FBI lawyer Lisa Page, in which the two expressed views that were critical of Trump. 

The FBI agent described his messages with Page, with whom he was having an affair, as private. 

Strzok also said he regretted the texts. 

Special counsel Robert Mueller removed Strzok from his probe into Russian election meddling when the text messages surfaced. 

House conservatives suggested after Strzok’s testimony that they had learned unspecified new information that is connected to the FBI’s handling of investigations during the 2016 election. 

“I’m not teasing you. I promise you — there is additional information that comes out,” Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) said. “If they want to ask questions that they already know the answers to, that’s up to them,” he added, referring to Democrats. 

Democrats, however, said Republican claims of partisan bias within the FBI were unfounded. 

Judiciary ranking member Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) said Republicans “wasted a lot of time … on stupid questions.”

–Updated at 8:34 a.m.