Trump, FBI Director Wray can be deposed in lawsuits by ex-officials Strzok and Page, judge rules

A national justice ordered Thursday that erstwhile President Donald Trump and existent FBI Director Christopher Wray tin each beryllium questioned successful sworn grounds by attorneys for ex-FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page arsenic portion of their lawsuits related to the government's disclosure of their backstage substance messages.

Trump and Wray tin beryllium deposed for 2 hours each connected a "narrow acceptable of topics" that were hashed retired during a sealed proceeding earlier successful the day, Judge Amy Berman Jackson wrote successful an bid successful U.S. District Court successful Washington, D.C.

But determination are inactive immoderate lingering questions astir enforcement privilege to beryllium resolved, the justice noted. She gave the Department of Justice until March 24 to specify whether President Joe Biden volition invoke enforcement privilege implicit the specified topics.

An lawyer for Page declined to comment. A lawyer for Strzok did not instantly respond to CNBC's questions astir the judge's order.

Trump regularly attacked Strzok and Page starting successful 2017, pursuing the revelation that the brace sent anti-Trump texts portion they were employed by the FBI and having an affair.

Strzok, astatine the clip a apical FBI counterintelligence official, was removed from a DOJ probe of Russian predetermination meddling pursuing then-special counsel Robert Mueller's find of his texts. Strzok was fired successful 2018.

Strzok and Page filed abstracted civilian lawsuits successful 2019 against the Justice Department and FBI. Strzok alleged helium was fired "because of his protected governmental speech" successful usurpation of his law rights.

The determination "was the effect of unrelenting unit from President Trump and his governmental allies successful Congress and the media," Strzok's ineligible ailment alleged. His suit seeks alleviation including "reinstatement and backmost pay."

Page, who resigned arsenic an FBI lawyer successful 2018, alleged successful her ain suit that the DOJ violated the Privacy Act by "unlawfully disclosing bureau records" erstwhile it shared her texts with the press.

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