Strzok was removed from Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation team in late July when DOJ officials learned about the text messages as part of a broader inspector general examination into alleged misconduct by then-FBI Director James Comey and others during the 2016 campaign. | J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo Democrats want to know why Justice Department released FBI texts 
 
 Democrats pressed the Justice Department on Thursday to explain why it released salacious, anti-Donald Trump text messages exchanged between two FBI employees who are still under investigation for their work on the Russia special counsel investigation. Made me want to key the car," Page wrote in an August 2015 exchange. It’s like an insurance policy in the unlikely event you die before you’re 40... 
 
 Sept. 27, 2016 
 
 Page: Man, I should have started drinking earlier. I’m genuinely stressed about the debate. Judiciary Committee ranking member Jerrold Nadler of New York and two other panel Democrats asked for a full review of DOJ’s decision making that led to Tuesday night’s release of about 375 texts that the FBI officials — Peter Strzok and Lisa Page — sent over a 15-month period during the 2016 presidential campaign. Nov. 15, 2016 
 
 Page: My god, Sessions for DoD or AG 
 
 Strzok: Which is the f-ed uppedness of it 
 
 Nov. 18, 2016 
 
 Strzok: Sessions for AG 
 
 Page: Good god 
 
 Dec. 1, 2016 
 
 Strozk: I keep thinking about what the D said, what was it, sick to one’s stomach? The messages, sent while the two FBI officials were reportedly having an extramarital affair, refer to Trump as an “idiot”, express support for Democrat Hillary Clinton and disparage several other political leaders, including Bernie Sanders and Attorney General Eric Holder. Some of the messages were partially redacted in the copies sent to Congress.
– More than 300 text messages exchanged between two FBI agents who used to work for Robert Mueller's Russia probe were delivered to Congress this week, riling Republicans who didn't like how some of them had ripped into Donald Trump during the presidential campaign and shortly after he was elected. But per the Wall Street Journal, Trump wasn't the only target of the insults and snark lobbed between Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, who reportedly were having an affair during the period when the texts were exchanged, per Politico. Bernie Sanders was one notable who caught some flak. "I just saw my first Bernie Sanders bumper sticker. Made me want to key the car," Page wrote. Strzok replied: "He's an idiot like Trump. Figure they cancel each other out." Page also seemed worried in July 2016 that Bernie Sanders supporters, whom she called "sanderistas," would sabotage Hillary Clinton's chances. Others who were verbally flayed in the texts: Page on Mitch McConnell: He looks like "a turtle." Strzok, apparently on Hillary Clinton: "I'm worried about what happens if HRC is elected." (No elaboration on why.) Page on Jeff Sessions, after learning he'd become AG: "Good god." Page on Ohio Gov. John Kasich: "long suspected of being gay." Strzok on Chelsea Clinton: "Self-entitled." Strzok on former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley: "a freakshow" and "a douche." Strzok on Paul Ryan: "a jerky." Strzok on Democratic National Convention speech by former AG Eric Holder: "Oh God, Holder! Turn it off turn if off!!!" Meanwhile, a DOJ spokeswoman says that some members of the media received copies of the texts before they were supposed to, and Democratic lawmakers aren't happy about it, Politico reports. "Those disclosures were not authorized by the department," she said in a statement. Read more of the texts here.