Why Did the DOJ Redact Text Messages Sent by FBI Employees Strzok and Page 1/2
We’ve all seen example of the various texts between former FBI Agent Peter Strzok and FBI Counsel Lisa Page. One thing remains constant throughout the public versions of their interactions—the heavy use of redactions.
President Donald Trump recently issued an order for the immediate declassification of a series of documents related to the Russia investigation.
In addition to these, President Trump also directed the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the FBI to publicly release all text messages of former FBI Director James Comey, former Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe, DOJ official Bruce Ohr along with those of Strzok and Page relating to the Russia investigation.
The released texts are to be fully unredacted.
Interestingly, the biggest area of resistance from the DOJ and FBI may actually relate to producing the unredacted texts from these individuals.
Which brings me to a question. Why have there been redactions of the Strzok/Page text messages in the first place? I fully understand why the DOJ and FBI wouldn’t want those texts made public. But desire for protection from embarrassing or incriminating exposure does not constitute a legal reasoning.
As the Wall Street Journal noted: “Redactions are supposed to be limited to guarding national security, attorney-client privilege, individual privacy or criminal investigations. These blackouts appear motivated to withhold pertinent information from Congress or spare the FBI political embarrassment.”
Under no circumstances can classified information be sent via text. Electronic devices aren’t even allowed in areas or facilities that contain or process classified information (PDF).
Either there is no classified information contained within the Page/Strzok texts or they were both violating very clear departmental policy and national security laws. There really is no middle ground here.
Let’s move forward with the assumption that no classified information is contained within any of the Strzok/Page texts. Another problem still remains, and it can be found in the DOJ’s Information Technology (IT) Security Rules of Behavior (ROB) for General Users (PDF).
Despite the somewhat boring title, the document itself is actually fairly direct and only eight pages in length. The final page contains a statement of acknowledgement that must be signed by each employee. From page 5:
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Unless explicitly authorized by the Authorizing Official (AO) for mobile devices, follow these rules:
a. Do not use Short Message Service (SMS) to conduct official government business.
b. Do not connect non-DOJ mobile devices and/or accessories to DOJ networks, including wireless access.
Now, it’s entirely possible that Page, Strzok, and others received certain exemptions allowing for their use of SMS messaging.
But the DOJ Inspector General report, A Review of Various Actions by the FBI and Department of Justice in Advance of the 2016 Election (PDF), appears to indicate that no special exemptions had been granted. In a footnote on page 423, the report notes the following in relation to texts sent by Strzok and Page:
These messages may also implicate other Department-wide Rules, such as Department of Justice Information Technology Security Rules of Behavior for General Users.