Top FBI agent removed from Mueller's team over anti-Trump texts

Washington DC (USA), December 03 (ANI): Veteran FBI agent Peter Strzok assigned to special counsel Robert S Mueller III has been removed from the latter's probe into Russian interference in the 2016 US Presidential election.

Strzok was removed this summer after the inspector general of Justice Department discovered him and another person from Mueller's team exchanging anti-Trump text messages.

One of the most trusted FBI counterintelligence investigators, Strzok helped in leading the investigation into whether Hillary Clinton mishandled classified information on her private email account, and then played a major role in the investigation into links between President Trump's campaign and Russia, reported New York Times.

"But Strzok was reassigned this summer from Mueller's investigation to the FBI's human resources department, where he has been stationed since," it said.

The people who were briefed on the reassignment said it was due to the "discovery of text messages in which Strzok and a colleague reacted to news events, like presidential debates, in ways that could appear critical of Trump".

A spokesperson for the special counsel's office, Peter Carr, said "Immediately upon learning of the allegations, the special counsel's office removed Strzok from the investigation," reported New York Times.

The text messages were discovered at a very crucial time during Mueller's investigation as he was almost on the verge of losing his job after Trump was infomed that the probe was "tainted".

However, the President later backed down.

It is still not known what Strzok mentioned in the text messages. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI