Hearing on the Russian probe stems in the screaming match

WASHINGTON – A beleaguered FBI agent whose anti-Trump messages exposed the Department of Justice to claims of institutional bias was vigorously defending himself at an extraordinary congressional hearing that consisted of shouting matches, to point out finger-pointing personal transgressions. 19659004] Peter Strzok testified publicly on Thursday for the first time since his withdrawal from the team of special advocate Robert Mueller following the discovery of texts last year that were exchanged with a lawyer from FBI in the run-up to the 2016 presidential election.

a chaotic audience that lasted for 10 hours, he insisted that he has never allowed that opinions Although he admitted to being appalled by Donald Trump's behavior during the He also said that he had never considered disclosing damaging information that he knew about the Trump campaign. And he described the audience as "just another victory in Putin's belt," referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin

"At no point in any of these texts do these personal beliefs stand in any way." never entered the field of my actions. "Strzok told lawmakers

By breaking his silence, Strzok found himself face-to-face with Republicans who argued that the texts had tainted two extremely important FBI polls that he had helped direct: Hillary Clinton's e-mail use surveys and "Agent Strzok has won the White House to Hillary Clinton before he finishes investigating it," he said. said Rep. Trey Gowdy, Republican Speaker of the House Oversight and Reform Committee. "Agent Strzok had asked Donald Trump to resign even before he began investigating him, this which is biased. "

Republican Darrell Issa sent Strzok some of his texts out loud, and Bob Goodlatte, chairman of the Judiciary Committee of the House, asked colleagues to imagine that a person who hated you and they denigrated in all sorts of ways. "

"Would any one agree? "I do not think it's an agency whose motto is" Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity, "said Goodlatte.

Strzok repeatedly insisted on the texts, including those in which he called Trump a" disaster " "A Trump candidacy, did not reflect political bias and did not infect his work."

He said that Trump's investigation was not due to the personal animosity but rather to the worry that Russia is meddling in the elections "extraordinary significance" of a Russian offer of badistance to a member of the Trump campaign.

He clearly expressed his exasperation by being at the center of an audience when Russian electoral interference had sown the divide successfully in America. 19659004] "I have the greatest respect for the congressional oversight role, but I sincerely believe that today 's hearing is only one victory. more in Putin's belt and another step in our enemies' campaign to tear America apart. " The hearing highlighted a little-discussed reality of public service: law enforcement officers and other public servants are allowed to espouse political opinions, but they are required to hold them to the public. Away from their work. Strzok said that he was not the only one to have political opinions, noting that his colleagues in 2016 supported Clinton and Trump but did not reflect these views on the work.

"What I am telling you, is me and the other men and women The FBI, every day, takes our personal beliefs and sets them aside in the vigorous pursuit of the truth – wherever it is , whatever it may be. "

To which Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas, replied:" Strzok said under aggressive questioning that a highly controversial text from August 2016 in which he promised "we will stop" Trump's candidacy followed Trump's vilification of the family of a dead American soldier.He said that the text of the late night reflected his belief that the Americans would not bear not a "horrible and disgusting behavior" on the part of the presidential candidate.

But he added in a loud and emphatic voice: By no means – unequivocally – no suggestion that me, the FBI, n & # 39 act in any way to improperly influence the pro Electoral cessation of any candidate, so I am very offended and I do not agree with you at all.

Moreover, he said, the Clinton and Russian investigations were run by large teams who "would not tolerate any inappropriate behavior in me more than I would tolerate in them"

. That's what we are like the FBI, "said Strzok in a lively riff that drew Democratic applause." And the suggestion that I, in a darkroom somewhere in the FBI, would somehow reject all these procedures, all these guarantees and somehow be able to do it is staggering for me. It simply could not happen. "

The hearing revealed clear partisan divisions in the House's oversight and justice committees, Democrats accusing Republicans of trying to deflect attention from Trump's ties with the Russia's Steve Cohen, of Tennessee, said he would give Strzok a purple heart if he could: "Bonnie Watson Coleman, of New Jersey, said," I've never seen my colleagues so out of control, so angry. "

An inspector general report last month accused Strzok and FBI lawyer Lisa Page, of having created an appearance of impropriety through their texts, but found that the results of the Clinton inquiry were not tainted with bias.

At one point, Republican Louis Gohmert, a Texas Republican, invoked Strzok's personal life by referring to the fact that the texts were exchanged for What he Page was in a relationship. Gohmert was wondering if he looked "so innocent" when he looked into his wife's eyes and lied about the case.

The comments aroused immediate objections from the Democrats, who described them as outrageous and Strzok livid. He told Gohmert that he would say that he "shows more what you represent" than anything else. Gohmert tried to shout it and the chairman tried in vain to restore order.

When Strzok refused to answer some questions about the Russian investigation, Goodlatte suggested that Republicans could reject the audience and despise it. The Democrats opposed and Goodlatte finally let the audience take its course

In his opening statement, Strzok acknowledged that if his criticism by text message was "straightforward", it would not stand up. did not address a person or a party. Clinton and Sen Bernie Sanders

He said that he was one of the few people in 2016 to know the details of Russian electoral interference and its possible links with the Trump campaign, and that this information could have derailed Trump's electoral chances. But, he said, "the thought of exposing this information has never crossed the mind."

FBI Director Chris Wray says employees who have been criticized by the Inspector General have been referred to internal disciplinary authorities. Strzok's lawyer said he was escorted from the FBI building last month while the disciplinary process continues.

Page should address legislators at a private meeting on Friday.

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Associated Press Writer Chad Day in Washington contributed to this report.