Fresh off his second consecutive Emmy nomination for The Late Show, Stephen Colbert wasted no time digging into the House Judiciary Committee hearing that captivated Washington on Thursday. In fact, he spent his entire monologue on it. “It was a parliamentary smackdown,” the host said of the intense back and forth between FBI agent Peter Strzok and House Republicans. “The Capitol dome became the Thunderdome.” Colbert reviewed some of the anti-Trump texts that Strzok sent during the 2016 campaign to his mistress, FBI lawyer Lisa Page, including one that read, in all caps, “WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED TO OUR COUNTRY…??!? !” “I don’t know, but hopefully Robert Mueller will tell us soon,” Colbert answered, prompting a huge cheer from his live audience. “Republicans see these texts as proof of a vast conspiracy within the FBI to stop Donald Trump from being elected president,” he continued. “And here’s how devious and how deep they went: In order to keep it a secret, they let him get elected president!” From there, Colbert presented his official coverage of “Red Hot Congressional Strzok-Fest 2018.” He covered all the most heated moments from the testimony, including the probing questions from “South Carolina Congressman and Supercuts vampire, Trey Gowdy.” The host also parodied the moment when the hearing completely devolved into a shouting match between members of Congress, culminating with, “Point of order, fuck you, point of order, no fuck you!” He added, “This is the first time I’ve seen Congress as frustrated with Congress as we are.” After showing Gowdy attempt to intimidate Strzok, Colbert said, “Wow, that was intense! It was like A Few Good Men but with even fewer good men.” But that was nothing compared to Strzok’s defiant comeback. “I was wondering why Gowdy was slumped so far down in his chair. Turns out it’s because he had his ass handed to him.” “So, it looks like what happened here is that Congress hauled in an FBI agent in an effort to undermine the integrity of law enforcement and protect the president from being investigated for potentially criminal acts,” Colbert concluded. Or as Trey Gowdy would say, he said, cutting to yet another clip of the congressmen reading Strzok’s texts, “OMG, this is terrifying!”<doc-sep>Peter Strzok, the FBI agent who sent anti-Trump texts, engaged in angry exchanges with House Republicans Thursday as he testified for the first time in public at a joint hearing before the House Judiciary and Oversight committees. One of the first exchanges began when Rep. Trey Gowdy, a South Carolina Republican, said he "didn't give a damn" as Strzok tried to explain the "context" around the texts including one that said "we will stop it," referring to then-candidate Donald Trump. "I don't appreciate having an FBI agent with an unprecedented level of animus working on two major investigations in 2016," Gowdy said. "What I can tell you is that text in no way suggested that I or the FBI would take any action to influence the candidacy of candidate Trump," an angry Strzok replied. In his opening remarks, Strzok told lawmakers that his texts "have created confusion and caused pain for people I love" and "have provided ammunition for misguided attacks against the FBI, an institution I love deeply and have served proudly for more than 20 years." As he concluded the remarks, he took a shot at Republicans who have harshly criticized him, saying they were helping Russian President Vladimir Putin. “I understand we are living in a political era in which insults and insinuation often drown out honesty and integrity,” Strzok said. “I have the utmost respect for Congress’s oversight role, but I strongly believe that today’s hearing is just another victory notch in Putin’s belt and another milestone in our enemies’ campaign to tear America apart,” he said. The committees are looking at the actions of the FBI and Justice Department during the 2016 presidential campaign. President Donald Trump and his supporters have cited Strzok's texts with his former FBI colleague Lisa Page, with whom Strzok was having an extramarital affair, as evidence of political bias within the FBI during the 2016 presidential campaign. Strzok's appearance came as House Republicans have demanded testimony from Page after she did not comply with a subpoena to appear before the committee for a closed-door interview on Wednesday. She is scheduled to appear Friday behind closed doors. Strzok, who led the Hillary Clinton email investigation, spoke to the committee behind closed doors last month for almost 11 hours. 8 p.m. - Hearing concludes Just shy of 8 p.m., Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., gaveled out, ending the 10-hour marathon hearing. As the hearing wrapped, the ranking Democrats on the Judiciary and Oversight Committees, Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., and Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., released a statement calling Thursday's partisan spectacle “a giant love letter to President Trump”. 7:30 p.m. – Strzok explains ‘insurance policy’ text In a reprieve from the mudslinging that has largely defined the hearing, Strzok took a moment to explain the meaning of a particularly ponderous text he sent Lisa Page that has come under scrutiny from those across the political spectrum. The text refers to an “insurance policy," but lacks the context necessary to understand its meaning – making it fertile ground for partisans on both sides of the aisle. “I want to believe the path you threw out for consideration in Andy's office” – the text reads, referring to then-FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe – “that there's no way he gets elected,” – referring to Trump – “But I'm afraid we can't take that risk. It's like an insurance policy in the unlikely event you die before you're 40…" Many Republicans, supporters of President Trump, and even the president, himself, have suggested that Strzok’s “insurance policy” text referred to an FBI plot to prevent Trump from winning the 2016 election. “The ‘insurance policy’ text that has come up before – that text represented a debate on information we had received from an extraordinarily sensitive source and method,” Strzok said, going on to describe how one faction of the FBI advocated a measured approach to investigating possible Russian collusion. “Some people said, ‘hey, look, every poll is saying candidate Trump is likely not to win,’” Strzok said. “Some people said, ‘as a result of that, let’s not risk that source.’” Strzok says he represented the other faction within the FBI, advocating to aggressively investigate possible connections between members of the Trump camp and Russians in case Trump won. “If candidate Trump is elected, there might be people we need to be investigating that might be nominated to important national security positions. Everybody in America would want to know that. Candidate Trump would want to know that, “ Strzok said, concluding that, “much like you probably won’t die before you’re 40, that’s the meaning.” 7 p.m. – Nine hours later, Strzok, GOP members show no sign of letting up Nearly nine hours into Thursday’s hearing, neither Strzok nor congressional Republicans seem to be letting up, continuing to trade barbs, accusations, and shouts. An accusation from GOP congressman Rep. Mark Walker, R-N.C., reignited what has already been an unusually fiery grilling – even by House hearing h standards. “This is an integrity issue,” Rep. Walker said, discussing the content and volume of Strzok’s text messages. When he had a chance to respond, Strzok slammed Rep. Walker’s assertion, raising his voice yet again. “I am here under oath. I am not lying. I have never lied under oath and I never will,” Strzok said. “The insinuation—not even the insinuation, the direct comment that you somehow say I have an integrity issue is insulting. I take offense. It is incorrect.” With a handful of lawmakers still waiting for their time to question the beleaguered former FBI agent, we may very well stretch into a tenth hour. 4:45 p.m. – Strzok says Steele dossier was not the genesis of FBI’s Russia-Trump probe As the hearing grinds on, members appear to be more interested in pontificating than asking Strzok any meaningful questions. One moment worth noting, however, was Strzok’s response to a question about how the FBI came to launch their investigation into possible connections between some members of the Trump campaign and Russia. “Was the [Steele] dossier a part of why you opened up the investigation?” Rep. Ron Desantis, R-Florida, asked. “No,” Strzok said, before refusing to answer follow-up questions regarding other suggested beginnings of the investigation, on the advice of FBI counsel. The so-called Steele dossier is a 35-page document containing raw intelligence compiled by former British intelligence agent Christopher Steele. Strzok’s assertion that the Steele dossier was not the reason why federal authorities opened their investigation undermines what many Trump supporters have claimed and affirmed what former FBI Director James Comey told ABC News in an interview earlier this year. Comey told ABC News the investigation began “because of reliable information that George Papadopoulos was having conversations about obtaining information from the Russians.” Papadopoulos pleaded guilty in October 2017 to making false statements and material omissions to investigators probing interference in the 2016 presidential election, in relation to his contacts with a London-based professor with ties to the Russian government. 3:15 p.m. – Dems erupt when GOP member discusses Strzok’s infidelity In perhaps the most contentious moment of the hearing thus far, Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, got personal with Strzok about his affair with Lisa Page – and Democrats cried foul. “He's lying. He knows we know he's lying,” Gohmert said. “I’ve talked to FBI agents around the country. You've embarrassed them. You've embarrassed yourself. And I can't help but wonder when I see you looking there with a little smirk is how many times did you look so innocent into your wife's eye and lie to her about Lisa Page.” The Department of Justice’s inspector general concluded in their June report that Strzok and Page had engaged in an extramarital affair. A chorus of Democrats objected to Rep. Gohmert’s remark. “Shame on you,” one shouted. “What is wrong with you?” another added. “This is intolerable,” and finally “You need your medication.” As for Strzok, all he said was, "Sir, that is quite a set of statements." "I have always told the truth," Strzok added, "The fact that you would accuse me otherwise, the fact that you would question whether that is the sort of look I would engage in with a family member who I have acknowledged hurting goes more to a discussion about your character and what you stand for." 2:45 p.m. – Tempers flare as Dem suggests Strzok deserves a Purple Heart As Republicans continue battering the former FBI agent, at least one Democrat is suggesting Strzok’s performance in front of the committee warrants commendation. “If I could give you a Purple Heart, I would,” Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., said. “You deserve one. This is an attack on you and Mr. Mueller of the investigation that's to get Russia of collusion and fall on our election.” Moments later, after an exchange regarding the so-called Steele dossier, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, expressed his frustration when Strzok declined to answer. “This is unbelievable,” Rep. Jordan said. “It’s as frustrating as it can get.” “Sir, it is as frustrating to me as it is to you,” Strzok responded, grinning, adding that he wanted to answer the question but could not comment on an ongoing investigation. 2:15 p.m. – GOP's Issa asks Strzok to read texts aloud, Strzok cites Trump NATO comments as the rationale for 2016 text After an hour-long intermission for House votes, members trickled back into the chamber to resume questioning. Only about a dozen of the 76-member panel have had a chance to question Strzok, thus far. In the first questioning after returning from the break, Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., asked Strzok to read aloud from a selection of his anti-Trump texts handed over to the committee. Strzok obliged, delivering the texts in a monotone voice, adding that “these texts represent personal beliefs” and again imploring the committee to read the texts within the context of what Trump was saying at the time. “When I make the comment about Trump having no idea how destabilizing his presidency would be,” Strzok said, “that came on the heels of a speech where then-candidate Trump said he didn’t know whether the United States should honor its commitment to mutual defense under NATO.” 1:00 p.m. – Hearing continues with contentious questioning falling along party lines As Thursday's joint hearing grinds on into the afternoon, the content of questioning diverges sharply along party lines, with Republicans berating Strzok over his text messages and Democrats lamenting GOP colleagues’ accusations of FBI bias against President Trump. Questioning from both sides, however, remains contentious. During his allotted time, Rep. John Ratcliffe, R-Texas, accused Strzok of “hating” President Trump, asking: “Are you starting to understand why some folks out there don't believe a word you say?” Before Strzok finished responding, Ratcliffe stood up and left the committee room. At one point, a frustrated GOP Rep. Goodlatte pressed Strzok to release additional text messages from his personal device. Strzok said he would not. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, took a moment out of her questioning to show the committee a recently-released mugshot of former Trump campaign chief Paul Manafort as evidence that the investigation into Russian meddling is not, she said, unfounded. 11:20 a.m. – Strzok slams Trump, Dems applaud Strzok gave an impassioned defense of himself and of the FBI. It began by Strzok saying he didn't appreciate how Rep. Trey Gowdy has twisted his words, especially about two text messages: the one saying "we will stop it" about Trump, and one saying Hillary Clinton should win 100 million to zero. Gowdy responded: "I don't give a damn what you appreciate, agent Strzok. I don't appreciate having an FBI agent with an unprecedented level of animus working on two major investigations in 2016." Then, in a dramatic monologue applauded by Democrats, Strzok asked the panel to “understand the context in which” his texts were sent, citing what he called Trump’s “horrible” treatment of a Gold Star father on the campaign trail.<doc-sep>
FBI counterintelligence agent Peter Strzok offered a forceful defense of the FBI that drew applause at its conclusion from some Democrats during a contentious and testy hearing focused on GOP allegations of anti-Trump bias at the law enforcement bureau. His remarks won a round of applause from committee Democrats, who accuse Republicans of a political charade designed to discredit the Russia investigation being led by special counsel Robert Mueller Robert (Bob) MuellerSenate Democrats urge Garland not to fight court order to release Trump obstruction memo Why a special counsel is guaranteed if Biden chooses Yates, Cuomo or Jones as AG Barr taps attorney investigating Russia probe origins as special counsel MORE. ADVERTISEMENT Strzok, under subpoena, was testifying before two powerful House committees as a result of Republican efforts to grill him on text messages he sent during the 2016 campaign that were critical of then-candidate Trump. “At no time, in any of these texts, did those personal beliefs ever enter into the realm of any action I took,” Strzok said, adding that “multiple layers” of agents above and below him at the bureau would not have tolerated any “improper behavior.” “They would not tolerate any improper behavior in me anymore than I would tolerate it in them," he said. "That is who we are as the FBI, and the suggestion that I, in some dark chamber somewhere in the FBI, would somehow cast aside all of these procedures, all of these safeguards, and somehow be able to do this is astounding to me." “The proposition that that is going on and that might occur anywhere in the FBI deeply corrodes what the FBI is in American society, the effectiveness of their mission, and it is deeply destructive,” Strzok said. The text messages were revealed by a Justice Department inspector general investigation, and resulted in Strzok being removed from Mueller’s investigation team. But Republicans have seized on the texts as evidence of systemic political bias at the FBI against Trump. GOP lawmakers have focused on one text exchange between Strzok and Lisa Page, a now-former FBI lawyer, in which Strzok replied, “We’ll stop it,” after he was asked, “[Trump’s] not ever going to become president, right? Right? !” On Thursday, Strzok rejected the suggestion that his sentiment is evidence that he took official action to somehow thwart Trump’s presidential campaign. “That was written late at night, off the cuff and it was in response to a series of events that included then-candidate Trump insulting the immigrant family of a fallen war hero,” Strzok said in response to questioning from House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.). “My presumption, based on that horrible, disgusting behavior, [was] that the American population would not elect somebody demonstrating that behavior to be president of the United States," Strzok added. "It was in no way, unequivocally, any suggestion that me, the FBI, would take any action whatsoever to improperly impact the electoral process for any candidate.” “I take great offense and I take great disagreement to your assertion of what that was or wasn’t,” Strzok said.