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A4 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 12 July 2018

Republicans demand interview with ex-FBI lawyer this week

By MARY CLARE JALONICK Republicans said, they will by threatening to hold of- Democrats have strongly Strzok were having an af-
and ERIC TUCKER initiate the contempt pro- ficials there in contempt. objected to the GOP-led fair, which is noted in the
Associated Press cess at 10:30 a.m. Friday. But contempt threats were investigation, saying it is Justice Department report.
WASHINGTON (AP) — “We are aware of the is- futile earlier this year when an attempt to undermine Trump tweeted Wednes-
House Republicans have day: “Ex-FBI LAYER Lisa
told former FBI lawyer Lisa Page today defied a House
Page that she must answer of Representatives issued
questions before two House Subpoena to testify before
committees investigating Congress!
the Justice Department this Wow, but is anybody re-
week or they will begin the ally surprised! Together with
process of holding her in her lover, FBI Agent Peter
contempt of Congress. Strzok, she worked on the
Page was subpoenaed to Rigged Witch Hunt, per-
appear for a private inter- haps the most tainted and
view Wednesday, but her corrupt case EVER!”
lawyer informed the com- In a second tweet, Trump
mittees Tuesday that she wrote: “How can the
would not show up. Amy Rigged Witch Hunt pro-
Jeffress said Page had of- ceed when it was started,
fered to voluntarily appear influenced and worked on,
before the committees lat- for an extended period of
er this month, but needed time, by former FBI Agent/
more clarification about Lover Peter Strzok? Read
what the lawmakers would his hate filled and totally
be asking. Jeffress also said biased Emails and the an-
Page had been attempt- swer is clear!”
ing to access documents Strzok had a leading role in
at the FBI to prepare for the the Clinton probe and was
hearing. House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis., leaves a news conference following a House Republican removed from the Mueller
The House Judiciary and Conference meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, July 11. Associated Press investigation after the texts
Oversight and Govern- were discovered a year
ment Reform Committees sues raised regarding ac- former White House strate- Mueller’s probe and sway ago. Page had already left
are interested in Page as cess to documents by gist Steve Bannon refused public opinion against in- the Mueller team.
part of their investigation the FBI,” Goodlatte and to answer certain questions vestigators. As the committees have
into what they say is bias Gowdy wrote. “We are before the House intelli- Trump has seized on Page investigated bias at the
at the Justice Department. also aware of committee gence committee, which and Strzok’s inflammatory Justice Department, they
Page exchanged text mes- efforts to schedule your cli- was investigating Russian texts, which were detailed have focused much of their
sages critical of Donald ent’s appearance for over election interference. in a report by the Justice ire on Strzok.
Trump with FBI agent Pe- six months now.” Bannon never answered Department’s internal He was interviewed private-
ter Strzok, who will testify House Speaker Paul Ryan the questions, and the watchdog last month, to ly by lawmakers on the two
publicly before the panels said Wednesday that he House never voted on paint the FBI and Mueller’s committees for 11 hours
Thursday. Page and Strzok backed Goodlatte’s efforts whether to hold him in con- investigation as biased. June 27. When he returns
both worked on the FBI in- to secure Page’s testimony. tempt. The investigation is looking to Capitol Hill for Thursday’s
vestigation into Democrat “A subpoena to testify be- The Judiciary and Over- at Russian ties to Trump’s hearing he will be speaking
Hillary Clinton’s emails and, fore Congress is not option- sight panels have already campaign and whether publicly about the messag-
later, on special counsel al, it’s mandatory,” Ryan spent much of the sum- Trump obstructed justice. es for the first time.
Robert Mueller’s Russia in- said. mer holding hearings and The report did not find that The Judiciary Committee
vestigation. Contempt votes are rare in interviews critical of the FBI the conclusions in the Clin- also held a contentious
House Judiciary Chairman Congress and often largely and Justice Department. ton investigation were taint- hearing June 28 with FBI
Robert Goodlatte and symbolic. If the full House House Republicans have ed by political bias, but crit- Director Christopher Wray
House Oversight and Gov- does vote to hold someone suggested the FBI was con- icized Strzok and Page for and Deputy Attorney Gen-
ernment Reform Chairman in contempt, the matter spiring against Trump dur- their conversations. In one eral Rod Rosenstein. In the
Trey Gowdy wrote Jeffress then moves to the courts, ing and after his presiden- of the exchanges, Strzok hearing, Republicans an-
Wednesday evening de- where it has often stalled. tial campaign, and the two wrote “we’ll stop it” in refer- grily accused the officials
manding that Page either Threats of contempt have committees are investigat- ence to a potential Trump of withholding documents
appear at the public hear- had mixed results. ing decisions made by the election win. from them and demand-
ing with Strzok on Thursday Ryan recently secured the agency and the Justice The president has also ed details about surveil-
or for a private deposition release of some documents Department during the made frequent references lance tactics in the Russia
Friday. If she doesn’t, the by the Justice Department election. to the fact that Page and investigation.q