By Debra Heine
In the wake of newly released text messages between fired FBI agent Peter Strzok and former FBI lawyer Lisa Page, former federal prosecutor Joe diGenova said he believes “the walls are closing in” on Obama-era FBI and Department of Justice Department officials.
Damning new texts obtained by Fox News this week show former FBI lovebirds Strzok and Page talking about government employees “leaking like mad” and media outlets competing for scoops in the run-up to the appointment of Special Counsel Robert Mueller.
“The walls are closing in, but they’re not closing in on the president. They’re closing in on the FBI and the Department of Justice under President Obama,” diGenova said on Fox News’ “Hannity” Thursday night.
He explained that the new Strzok-Page texts exposed a strategy to “illegally and criminally” release Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrant information, including releasing the name of a U.S. citizen caught up in the surveillance abuse.
“By mentioning Carter Page, they have now created massive civil liability for everybody involved in revealing Carter Page’s name,” diGenova declared. He cited the names of former FBI counterintelligence director Bill Priestap, former FBI director James Comey, former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe, and former FBI general counsel James Baker as people who are particularly vulnerable to civil liability.
“The reporters for the New York Times have no privileges now. They also can be sued by Carter Page because although they may have been legally able to accept information, by publishing it, they revealed classified information that smeared Carter Page,” he added. “Mr. Page is going to be a very wealthy man.”
The attorney said a grand jury was looking at the FISA abuse but he wasn’t sure whether it was U.S. Attorney John Huber or the National Security Division at the Justice Department doing the investigating.
But according to diGenova, Comey, McCabe, and Strzok are criminally liable. “They’re all going down on the FISA warrant stuff. That’s just not even an open question anymore.”
