After completely ignoring for the better part of three days the shocking revelations that the FBI had somehow managed to lose five months worth of text messages, ABC finally found the story during Wednesday’s World News Tonight. And with their late arrival came a heavy spin campaign to make it seem as though it was nothing more than baseless accusations from a panicked Republican Party. All the while, CBS and NBC moved on from the story after only each covering it for a short time.
“In the meantime, some Republicans on the attack against the FBI and the special counsel investigation, but now demanding answers about missing text messages between two FBI staffers,” announced sensationalist anchor David Muir, as he seemed to trivialize their role on the Special Counsel and failed to mention the Inspector General's investigation into the matter.
For the segment, Chief Justice Correspondent Pierre Thomas' approach centered on the idea that it was a wild tale being weaved by an embattled GOP. “On Capitol Hill today, Republicans escalating their attacks on special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation,” he declared. “Senator Johnson now raising questions about a potential larger FBI conspiracy against the President.”
Thomas brushed over the adulterers’ incendiary anti-Trump and pro-Hillary messages. There was no mention of the cryptic text were FBI agent Peter Strzok told his mistress Lisa Page that the Trump election “insurance policy” should be made active. And he left out the message that exposed former Attorney General Loretta Lynch for possibly having prematurely known the outcome of the Clinton e-mail probe (which contradicted former FBI Director James Comey).
But that didn’t stop Thomas from trying to discredit the comments from Senator Ron Johnson (Wisc.), who told Fox News Channel’s Bret Baier on Tuesday that the Senate Homeland Security Committee, which he chaired, had a whistleblower come forward and exposed a “secret society” of FBI officials. He also left out the part where the Senator said the allegations went past those of bias and straight to corruption.
“Today, Johnson refusing to produce evidence, but pointing to another text exchange between Strzok and Page,” Thomas huffed. “But Republicans have not released that text message, and its meaning is unclear.” Perhaps he didn’t like that Johnson wasn’t like California Congressman Adam Schiff (D) who leaked like a sieve when it was in the interest of hurting President Trump.
Yet, nearly two hours after the segment aired, ABC managed to get a hold of the text message in question (from Page to Strzok) which read: “Are you even going to give out your calendars? Seems kind of depressing. Maybe it should just be the first meeting of the secret society.” And they tried to downplay it as a reference “made in jest.”
While Thomas was dismissing Senator Johnson he was touting Republican Senator Richard Burr (N.C.) for defending the FBI. “The FBI says the texts disappeared because of a technical glitch, and today, the Republican chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee suggests he accepts the FBI’s explanation,” he said. It’s worth noting that Thomas was quick to flash Burr’s position as a chairman but didn’t do the same for Johnson, which resulted in the latter coming off as having less authority on the subject.
When the program cut back to live, Muir bizarrely declared: “This is a political battle, and ultimately, the American people will decide whether those personal text messages were appropriate or not.” “Burr, the Republican chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, today refused to join in the fray, suggesting that the FBI's explanation of the technical glitch is reasonable,” Thomas backed him up.
ABC’s coverage of the Inspector General’s investigation into the FBI’s handling of certain investigations (as well as the rest of the liberal media) has been grossly lacking. By deliberately omitting key messages and trivializing the agents’ roles, they do a disservice to the truth all for a political motivation.
The relevant portions of the transcript are below:
ABC
World News Tonight
January 24, 2018
6:38:33 PM EasternDAVID MUIR: In the meantime, some Republicans on the attack against the FBI and the special counsel investigation, but now demanding answers about missing text messages between two FBI staffers. One of whom worked on the special counsel's team. He was then asked to leave after some of those texts revealed personal opinions about then-candidate Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. Here's ABC's Senior Justice Correspondent Pierre Thomas tonight.
[Cuts to video]
PIERRE THOMAS: On Capitol Hill today, Republicans escalating their attacks on special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation.
SEN. RON JOHNSON: The American public should have some very serious concerns.
THOMAS: Republican Senator Ron Johnson pointing to personal text messages exchanged between Peter Strzok, a former member of Mueller’s team, and Lisa Page, an FBI lawyer seen in this alumni picture. In texts sent during the campaign, the couple exchanged their private thoughts, including critical comments about a number of political figures, including candidate Trump. Strzok calling him an idiot. Page saying he's awful. Mueller learned of those texts over the summer and immediately removed Strzok from the investigation. But Senator Johnson now raising questions about a potential larger FBI conspiracy against the President.
JOHNSON: Yeah, but we have an informant that's talking about a group that were holding secret meetings off-site. There is so much smoke here, there's so much suspicion.
(…)
THOMAS: Today, Johnson refusing to produce evidence, but pointing to another text exchange between Strzok and Page.
JOHNSON: All I'm saying is that I've heard -- I've heard -- it's right in the text. You'll see the text. They use that: “Maybe we ought to have the first meeting of the secret society.” It’s not my words it’s theirs.
THOMAS: But Republicans have not released that text message, and its meaning is unclear. But now the President is raising questions about why the FBI is missing records of texts between the couple during a critical five-month period from the transition to the start of the Mueller probe.
(…)
THOMAS: The FBI says the texts disappeared because of a technical glitch, and today, the Republican chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee suggests he accepts the FBI’s explanation.
SEN. RICHARD BURR: I'll let the FBI explain where the glitch is, but it's not limited, as I understand it, to two people's text messages. It's across the board at FBI.
THOMAS: Democrats believe Republicans are just trying to undermine the special counsel.
CHUCK SCHUMER: I think there has been a great deal of activity on the other side intending to either divert attention from Mueller or even stand in his way.
[Cuts back to live]
MUIR: Pierre Thomas with us live tonight from our Washington bureau. And Pierre, this is a political battle and ultimately, the American people will decide whether those personal text messages were appropriate or not. But Republican Senator Richard Burr just there moments ago seemed to try to put this all into context of some sort.
THOMAS: That's right, David. Burr, the Republican chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, today refused to join in the fray, suggesting that the FBI's explanation of the technical glitch is reasonable. And lawmakers from both parties know that the special counsel is considering a wealth of information as its investigation continues, David.
MUIR: Pierre, thank you.
