Peter Strzok claimed ignorance of the FBI’s mistakes in the opening of an investigation into discredited Alfa-Bank claims in 2016, as the fired bureau agent renewed his criticism of special counsel John Durham’s investigation into the Trump-Russia investigators.
Last week, a jury found Democratic cybersecurity lawyer Michael Sussmann not guilty on charges of concealing his two clients from FBI General Counsel James Baker when he pushed debunked allegations of a secret line of communication between the Trump Organization and Russia’s Alfa-Bank in 2016.
Strzok made his remarks on the In Lieu of Fun webcast hosted by Ben Wittes of the Brookings Institution on Friday. Wittes is a friend of fired FBI James Comey and of Baker, who had worked at Brookings after his time as FBI general counsel. Some texts between Baker and Wittes were entered into evidence during the Sussmann trial, and Wittes describes Baker as a “personal friend.”
He was visibly frustrated throughout parts of the discussion, especially when discussing Durham and former Attorney General William Barr. Strzok said he had learned “a couple of things” from the Sussmann trial.