By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com
Former FBI Agent Peter Strzok, who was at the center of the bureau’s Russia investigation in 2016, argues in a new court filing that the FBI and Justice Department violated his privacy and free speech rights.
The claims on Monday were a response to the Justice Department’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit in which he alleged he was wrongfully terminated, The Hill reports.
Strzok’s legal team argues that he, like other rank-and-file government employees, have a right to share personal political opinions. He claims he was fired for exercising his First Amendment right to free speech.
“The government’s argument would leave thousands of career federal government employees without protections from discipline over the content of their political speech,” the filing said.
“Nearly every aspect of a modern workplace, and for that matter nearly every non-workplace aspect of employees’ lives, can be monitored,” it added. “The fact that a workplace conversation can be discovered does not render it unprotected.”
The DOJ counters that his high-profile role in the investigation held him to a higher standard.
The FBI declined to comment on the court filing, citing ongoing litigation.
