“Credible” Lisa Page Wows House GOP; Supports Theory FBI Had “Desired Outcome” In Russia Probe

GOP lawmakers were pleased with former FBI attorney Lisa Page’s Friday closed-door interview with select House committee members – in sharp contrast to her former FBI co-worker and lover Peter Strzok’s Thursday testimony which was mostly a ten-hourtrain wreck.

After just five hours, a “cooperative” and “credible” Page answered many questions Strzok didn’t, according to Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-TX) as reported by Politico‘s Kyle Cheney, in large part because FBI attorneys present at the session backed off and let her answer more questions. 

Rep. Ratcliffe says Lisa PAGE answered many questions Strzok didn’t and that lawmakers learned a lot of new information. He declined to provide any other details.

— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) July 13, 2018

Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC) – one of Page’s harshest critics leading up to her appearance, said that her cooperation “speaks well of her” according to The Hill. 

“We certainly learned additional things today, but I can tell you that the last thing anyone wants to be is falsely accused and her willingness to cooperate today speaks well of her” -Rep. Mark Meadows

Remarkably, we learned new information today suggesting the DOJ had not notified Lisa Page of Congress’ outstanding interview requests for over 7 months now. The DOJ/FBI appear to be continuing their efforts to keep material facts, and perhaps even witnesses, from Congress.

— Mark Meadows (@RepMarkMeadows) July 13, 2018

Rep. MEADOWS says Page was able to answer more than Strzok because the FBI counsel was less intrusive and seemed more permissive.

Republicans seem far more pleased with her testimony than Strzok’s. Meadows/Gaetz/Ratcliffe all say they learned good new info.

— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) July 13, 2018

Meadows: Lisa Page is a very credible witness..she’s doing her best to help us find the truth and I think in ways she’snbeen falsely accused of not being willing to cooperate. We’ve learned.. evidence..that would suggest that she’s been willing to help in a spirit of transparency

— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) July 14, 2018

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) said that Page’s testimony heightened his concern over whether the FBI was driving towards a “desired outcome” in its Russ’a probe.

Rep. Gaetz says the questions Lisa Page answered — but Strzok would not — heighten his concern about whether the FBI was driving toward a “desired outcome” in its Russia probe.

He said FBI counsel was still there and at times intervened to prevent her from answering.

— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) July 13, 2018

Gaetz also questioned the presence of FBI attorneys during the private testimony.

“Lisa Page is not an FBI employee, but the FBI was here providing counsel and giving her direction as to which questions to answer or not answer and there is a question as to the propriety of that before the House,” Gaetz said, according to the Hill.

But he said he also found Page to be “more credible” than Strzok, the New York Post reported.  

“I didn’t agree with her characterization of every text message and every piece of evidence,” Gaetz said as he left the House hearing. “But we did not see the smug attitude from Lisa Page that we saw from Peter Strzok.” –Fox News

The three GOP lawmakers wouldn’t say whether what Page shared during her closed door appearance was consistent with Strzok’s Thursday session, they did get new information. 

All three, though, declined to say whether her testimony was consistent with Strzok’s. They got *new* info but not necessarily inconsistent testimony.

— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) July 13, 2018

And while special agent Peter Strzok freaked people out with his Devil’s Advocate performance on Thursday, Lisa Page now appears poised to redeem herself through honesty and transparency. Who knows, maybe watching her former side-piece do this freaked her out too: 

Completely real. I personally recorded it from my tv. I was so shocked when I saw it and played it back. I only cut the first part of the arguing. This is the full recording I captured. I couldn’t believe it. pic.twitter.com/fL3Ji16qP1

— Holly Bowie (@Hollybowie) July 13, 2018

Note Page’s depiction in the media has gone from this:

To this:

Furthermore, we learn from Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows (R-NC) that the DOJ had not notified Page of Congress’ outstanding requests to interview her for over seven months, confirming that the pushback against any probe into what really happened as the “deep state” started probing the Trump circle in 2016 goes to the very top of the Department of Justice. 

Remarkably, we learned new information today suggesting the DOJ had not notified Lisa Page of Congress’ outstanding interview requests for over 7 months now. The DOJ/FBI appear to be continuing their efforts to keep material facts, and perhaps even witnesses, from Congress.

— Mark Meadows (@RepMarkMeadows) July 13, 2018

Could Lisa Page be the key to it all? Does she already have a book deal?