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While this investigation is still ongoing and additional messages may appear, CNN's review of recent texts, in the context of other contemporary messages and events, shows that Strzok and Page were fully aware of the articles on the FBI and his other when published articles.
Some texts raise questions about their level of involvement in creating stories about ongoing investigations and their authorization, but frequent coordination and communication with the former head of the FBI press office. , Michael Kortan, are a recurring theme in their interactions. At times, they have been consulted as experts by the press service to facilitate accurate reporting, depending on the source, knowing their interactions well, which occurs regularly during the fact-checking process. by journalists before publication.
The reference to a "role" in the stories, while open to interpretation, did not mean contributing to the underlying story, but rather their professional roles meant they were aware of certain information that only a small group people knew at the time, according to a source familiar with the exchange.
"Sitting with Bill watching CNN, one more TON," Strzok texted the page on January 10, 2017. "Hey, let me know when you can talk. went out, interview people. "
What was meant by "pretense" is unclear, but in counter-intelligence investigations, it is common practice to turn to a person to interview without disclosing the true reason for the interview, which could be highly classified. Josh Campbell, an analyst at CNN and a former FBI special agent, said something of public interest in the media could be an effective way for an FBI agent to interrogate a person while protecting sensitive sources and methods. .
A simple explanation of their intention, however, is rarely explicitly proposed through the text and, therefore, these cryptic lines give rise to a test of their Rorschach-like meanings during a week when Page and Strzok's credibility was the test.
As a former official of the FBI's Counterintelligence Division, Strzok helped lead the investigation into the treatment of information classified by Hillary Clinton. He then opened the investigation into the links between members of the Trump campaign and alleged members of the Russian army.
He briefly served on Mueller's team last summer, but was dismissed shortly after the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Justice discovered the texts exchanged on his mobile phone with Page. He was fired from the FBI in August. The page was also on Mueller's team for a brief stint before returning to the FBI, and she resigned from the office in May.
Representatives of Page and Strzok refused to comment on this story.
No "freelance"
In addition to regularly monitoring media alerts on their phones, both groups often seem concerned about what they view as inaccuracies in reports or reviews about headlines.
On January 19, 2017, Page sent a text message to Strzok, "I'm really angry about the article on the times.This must stop." He agreed, responding the next day, "Yeah and this is not even news! No substance, and largely false. The press will undermine his credibility."
Strzok: In the end, Mike went through the boss's thoughts / chronology / stories about it. Pile of additional details (redacted) was etc.
Page: K. Did you mention my presence in kortan?
Strzok: Not to Mike, he was gone. The guys who remained seemed to think no, said Mike who was going to talk to you.
Another message refers to cooperation and "access", but they do not name the point of sale.
"Go very clearly, we cooperated and gave access to MUCH for an article that I think will be very negative, bad enough for the negative press, worse to choose to give a lot and continued access to the negative press," wrote Strzok. . Page of April 27, 2017. She replied, "So let's talk to Mike and (redacted) about it before."
Although such exchanges may warrant further investigation given the depth of their roles in the Russian investigation, a source close to their interactions pointed out that Page and Strzok did not work freelance with the media.
In addition, other messages show their confusion and discomfort as they try to find the source of "leaks" in the media and that they struggle against their own information falling into the wrong hands.
"Think our sisters have begun to sink like crazy," Strzok told Page on December 15, 2016, without further details. "Contempt and worried and political, they begin to saturate."
Strzok does not say who his "sisters" are, but Campbell says agents often refer to CIA and NSA colleagues as "sisters."
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