The Department of Justice (DOJ) has reached settlements with former FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, resolving lawsuits filed by the pair over the release of their text message conversations that expressed contempt for former President Donald Trump.
The Department of Justice has reached settlement agreements with former FBI counterintelligence agent Peter Strzok and ex-FBI lawyer Lisa Page, ending their lawsuits against the government over the release of text messages they exchanged criticizing former President Donald Trump.
According to court documents obtained by the Associated Press, Strzok received a settlement of $1.2 million, while Page received $800,000. The settlements resolve their claims that the disclosure of their personal communications violated their privacy rights.
Justice Department Settles with Ex-FBI Officials Strzok and Page over Privacy Violations
Strzok was fired from the FBI in 2018 after the release of his anti-Trump text messages sent on bureau-issued phones while he was involved in investigations into both Hillary Clinton and Trump. He argued that his messages were protected by the First Amendment, even if inappropriate for a government official.
In a court filing, Strzok contended that he was entitled to a full factual record through discovery to establish that the DOJ's actions were politically motivated and unconstitutional. He asserted that dismissing the case prematurely would leave federal employees vulnerable to discipline based on the content of their political speech.
Justice Department Settles with Ex-FBI Officials Strzok and Page over Privacy Violations
Strzok's attorney, Aitan Goelam, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating that it was a "critical step forward" in addressing the government's unfair and politicized treatment of his client. He emphasized that the settlement also vindicated the privacy interests of all government employees and ensured protection from politically motivated adverse employment actions.
Page, who served as the former legal counsel to ex-FBI Director Andrew McCabe, also filed a lawsuit against the FBI and DOJ, alleging that the publication of her text messages with Strzok violated the Federal Privacy Act. She sought reimbursement for expenses incurred due to the release of her private information.
Justice Department Settles with Ex-FBI Officials Strzok and Page over Privacy Violations
In a statement, Page expressed vindication by the settlement but stressed her hope that institutions of justice would refrain from playing politics with the lives of their employees. Her complaint included requests for compensation for childcare, transportation, data-privacy protection, and attorney's fees related to multiple investigations and congressional appearances.
Fox News Digital's Jamie Joseph contributed to this report.
Justice Department Settles with Ex-FBI Officials Strzok and Page over Privacy Violations
