 [Washington Examiner] The FBI's Peter Strzok requested in the summer of 2017 that he retain his security clearance after being added to special counsel Robert Mueller's team, according to emails published by conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch on Tuesday.
Strzok has become the center of a heated debate in Washington about the integrity of the Justice Department and FBI over text messages he sent to a colleague that display a bias against President Trump. Obtained through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit in partially redacted form, an email he sent on July 13, 2017 to FBI officials asked that he keep all the authorities he held as a deputy assistant director in the counterintelligence division.
"Broadly, I need to be able to act at least in the capacity of my old CD DAD job ‐ approve NSLs [national security letters], conduct [redacted] declassify information, [redacted] agent travel, requisitions, etc. Of those, the most problematic and one of the most essential is declassification authority," Strzok said.
In reply, FBI's assistant director of the Counterintelligence Division, William Priestap, said Strzok would maintain his authorities.
"In answer to your initial question, while assigned to the Special Counsel’s office, you will retain your CD DAD authorities, to include declassification authority," Priestap said. "Since you will take your non-transferrable declassification authority with you, CD will work to obtain another declassification authority slot for the DAD who is chosen to replace you."
He added: "Assuming the 7th floor approves, you will remain on CD’s books as a fourth (floating) DAD. When you move on from your DAD position, your DAD slot will revert back to HRD."
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