A veteran FBI agent who exchanged anti-Trump text messages with a colleague during the election has been fired from the FBI, his lawyer has said.
Peter Strzok has been accused by Republicans of being biased against Donald Trump, and seeking to prevent his election victory.
Mr Trump has pointed to the text exchanges as evidence of bias in the special counsel’s Russia probe.
Mr Strzok served on the Russia probe and the Hillary Clinton email inquiry.
Mr Strzok’s lawyer Aitan Goelman said in a statement that FBI Deputy Director David Bowdich ordered the firing on Friday.
He said the sacking overruled a decision by the head of FBI employee discipline, who determined that Mr Strzok should only face a demotion and a 60-day suspension.
“The decision to fire Special Agent Strzok is not only a departure from typical Bureau practice, but also contradicts Director [Christopher] Wray’s testimony to Congress and his assurances that the FBI intended to follow its regular process in this and all personnel matters,” Mr Goelman said in a statement on Monday.
“This decision should be deeply troubling to all Americans. A lengthy investigation and multiple rounds of congressional testimony failed to produce a shred of evidence that Special Agent Strzok’s personal views ever affected his work.”
