As Twitchy told you earlier, the OIG report on the FBI’s Hillary Clinton investigation included a pretty damning text message exchange between Peter Strzok and Lisa Page.
NEWS: FBI agent texted ‘We’ll stop’ Trump from becoming president, a disclosure that’s included in a Justice report to be released today https://t.co/D3T7vHLfPu
— Robert Costa (@costareports) June 14, 2018
But Jonathan Chait wasn’t convinced that that was indicative of anything shady:
Am I the only person who suspects that only 2 words of his quote have been leaked because the broader context softens/changes the meaning? https://t.co/HV5pIONRj8
— Jonathan Chait (@jonathanchait) June 14, 2018
Well, Jonathan, ackshually …
“Several FBI employees Who played critical roles in the investigation sent political messages,” IG report says.
It cites Lisa Page text to Peter Strzok: “(Trump’s) not ever going to become president, right? Right?!”
Strzok: “No. No he’s not. We’ll stop it.”
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) June 14, 2018
Now that the context has been released, do you believe it softens/changes the meaning?
— Jeryl Bier (@JerylBier) June 14, 2018
Oof. The broader context definitely does not soften the meaning.
womp womp pic.twitter.com/l5tFwimU79
— Alex Griswold (@HashtagGriswold) June 14, 2018
https://twitter.com/kebejay/status/1007307196030316544
Sad, innit?
https://twitter.com/lookoutcoffee/status/1007296458331185153
These are stunning texts for FBI officials to have written.
Lisa Page: “[Trump’s] not ever going to become president, right? Right?!”
Peter Strzok: “No. No he won’t. We’ll stop it.” https://t.co/AbfxwPeeow
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) June 14, 2018
Life comes at you fast, evidently.. D'oh!
— MrSimmonsSr (@MrSimmonsSr) June 14, 2018
It sure does. Which is why if Chait’s gonna backpedal, he’s really got his work cut out for him:
The @washingtonpost is an extraordinary newspaper, but blaring this obviously hand-fed scoop is irresponsible for several reasons: pic.twitter.com/Y7VhpDFPok
— Jonathan Chait (@jonathanchait) June 14, 2018
The WaPo article includes the context, though. And no matter how strongly Chait objects, the headline is in line with what the messages show.
1. The leak of a two word snippet from a text conversation just screams "taken out of context." Ask yourself, why wasn't the entire conversation leaked? At least a sentence? A phrase?
— Jonathan Chait (@jonathanchait) June 14, 2018
2. The Republican counter-0investigation has leaked claim after claim that have melted away upon inspection. How many times do you give proven liars the benefit of the doubt?
— Jonathan Chait (@jonathanchait) June 14, 2018
3. The agents in question did not in fact "stop" Trump from winning. They didn't even try! Just the opposite: they kept the investigation of him secret from the voters while announcing his opponent was under investigation.
— Jonathan Chait (@jonathanchait) June 14, 2018
The point is that they suggest a pretty glaring professional bias with regard to Trump.
4. If it turns out this time the counter-investigation actually has something real, you can always publish it when they produce the goods. Two words is not the goods. You're being used.
— Jonathan Chait (@jonathanchait) June 14, 2018
We’ll give Chait a solid B-plus for effort.
They've got a little more context here, but it's not clear who "we" is — those 2? the FBI? the voters? pic.twitter.com/Rg7AKrN2Sq
— Jonathan Chait (@jonathanchait) June 14, 2018
Chait’s not a stupid guy, so we have to assume that he’s missing the point on purpose. Page and Strzok’s texts are not exactly a good look for the FBI. You don’t have to be a Trump supporter to recognize that.
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