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FOX NEWS FIRST: Anti-Trump FBI agent's hearing gets heated and personal; Dems bluffing on abolishing ICE?

By Fox News
Published | Updated

FBI Deputy Assistant Director Peter Strzok, testifies before a House Judiciary Committee joint hearing on "oversight of FBI and Department of Justice actions surrounding the 2016 election" on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, July 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

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Developing now, Friday, July 13, 2018

  • Anti-Trump FBI agent Peter Strzok was grilled by GOP lawmakers and threatened with contempt Thursday in an explosive hearing marked by angry exchanges
  • Former FBI lawyer Lisa Page is expected to be interviewed privately by lawmakers on Capitol Hill on Friday about anti-Trump text messages exchanged with her former colleague and lover Strzok, days after defying a congressional subpoena
  • President Trump slams British Prime Minister Theresa May's handling of Brexit, says the London mayor has done a 'terrible job' on terrorism and blasts mass migration in interview given during his trip to Britain
  • House Democrats who drafted a bill to abolish ICE now say they will vote against their own legislation

THE LEAD STORY - STRZOK INTERROGATED - FBI official Peter Strzok's first public hearing erupted into a heated political fracas on Thursday, as Republicans clashed with Democrats as well as the former investigator over his anti-Trump texts -- and even threatened him with contempt for initially refusing to answer questions on the Russia probe ... Throughout it all, Strzok remained defiant and maintained that he did not show bias in those infamous messages with former FBI lawyer - and his ex-lover - Lisa Page. He said that while he had his own political opinions, they did not impact his official investigative actions in the Hillary Clinton and Russian meddling probe.

Republicans sharply disputed that assessment, with Rep. Darrell Issa later making Strzok read examples of those texts aloud. Among them, Strzok read one message where he called Trump a "disaster," and another calling him an "idiot."  Perhaps the most explosive and personal exchange took place when Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, asked the "smirking" Strzok whether he was lying under oath the same way he "lied" to his wife while he carried on an affair with Page. Democrats immediately erupted into more objections, with one yelling, "Mr. Chairman, this is intolerable harassment of the witness" and another calling out, "You need your medication."

CLOSED-DOOR DEPOSITION: One day after disgraced agent Peter Strzok's explosive public interrogation, former FBI attorney Lisa Page is expected to appear for a private interview before House committees on Friday ... Page defied a congressionally issued subpoena to appear Wednesday for a closed-door deposition before the same committees. Late Tuesday night, Page’s legal team said she would not testify because she needed more time to prepare. House Republicans then sent a letter to Page’s attorney on Wednesday, laying out three options for her: Show up at Thursday’s public hearing alongside Strzok, attend a closed-door deposition on Friday or face contempt of Congress proceedings.

'SHE DIDN’T LISTEN TO ME': President Trump criticized British Prime Minister Theresa May's handling of Brexit on Thursday, telling the Sun newspaper that her plan was "very unfortunate" and would "probably" kill any possible trade deal between the U.S. and Britain. ... Trump's comments could be seen as a body blow to May's government, which is struggling to steady itself. Two key Cabinet members -- including Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson -- resigned in protest earlier this week over her plan to keep Britain and the European Union in a free market for goods, with a more distant relationship for services. When asked about the ongoing negotiations between May's government and the EU over the terms of their divorce, Trump told the Sun: "I would have done it much differently. I actually told Theresa May how to do it but she didn’t agree, she didn’t listen to me."

Trump also had harsh words for current London Mayor Sadiq Khan, a fervent critic of the president, saying Khan "has done a terrible job" running Europe's third-largest city. "I think he has done a very bad job on terrorism. I think he has done a bad job on crime, if you look, all of the horrible things going on there, with all of the crime that is being brought in." The president also warned that Britain and Europe were "losing its culture" due to mass migration.

Trump's comments came as widespread protests of Trump's visit were expected in London on Friday. Over the weekend, the president will head to one of his golf resorts in Scotland. Trump will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki on Monday in a closely watched summit in the finale of his European trip.

DEMS BLUFFING OVER ICE? - Democrats who drafted a bill to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement [ICE] suddenly announced Thursday night that they would vote against it if the legislation went to the floor, after House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy told Fox News he intended to call their bluff ... "We know Speaker [Paul] Ryan is not serious about passing our 'Establishing a Humane Immigration Enforcement System Act,' so members of Congress, advocacy groups, and impacted communities will not engage in this political stunt," Reps. Mark Pocan of Wisconsin, Pramila Jayapal of Washington and Adriano Espaillat of New York told the Hill and other news outlets. "If Speaker Ryan puts our bill on the floor, we plan to vote no and will instead use the opportunity to force an urgently needed and long-overdue conversation on the House floor."

Democrats have long pushed back on the administration’s immigration policies but tensions have escalated in the past month over family separations at the border. Calls from some far-left lawmakers to abolish ICE have grown ahead of the November elections.

AS SEEN ON FOX NEWS

FIREWORKS ON THE HILL: "I don't give a damn what you appreciate, Agent Strzok." – Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., in a heated exchange with FBI official Peter Strzok during Thursday's congressional hearing on Strzok's anti-Trump texts and alleged bias in the agency. WATCH

WALLACE-PUTIN, UNPLUGGED: "We're going to sit down for a half-hour interview. No holds barred. No subjects off-limits." – FOX News Sunday anchor Chris Wallace, on "America's Newsroom," announcing that he will interview Russian President Vladimir Putin after Monday's summit with President Trump in Helsinki, Finland. WATCH

TRENDING

Stormy Daniels performs after charges dropped, this time 'absolutely no touching.'

Blockbuster video stores closing in Alaska, leaving chain with one location in U.S.

Neckties may be next to face a ban in California.

GOP interns: Uber driver refused us service because of 'Make America Great Again' hats.

Twitter purge means fewer followers for Trump, Obama, Justin Bieber.

Thai cave where soccer team was trapped will become a 'living museum,' official says.

THE SWAMP

FOX News Halftime Report: New Power Rankings map shows gubernatorial races across U.S.

Alabama GOP congresswoman who condemned Trump faces uphill re-election battle.

Manafort mugshot revealed after he's moved to new jail.

FOX NEWS POLLS

Jury's out on Kavanaugh, voters want Senate vote before midterms.

Democrats ahead in election enthusiasm, interest -- and the vote

Full coverage: FOX News polling

ACROSS THE NATION

'Golden State Killer' suspect faces victims, families at court hearing.

Country music star Tim Atwood thinks NFL players should stand for anthem: 'That's what the country is about.'

NC town battles opioid epidemic by using robots to test people’s poop.

MINDING YOUR BUSINESS

Friday's second-quarter bank earnings to set tone for season ahead.

China's June exports jump, surplus with U.S. at record high.

AT&T CEO Stephenson ready to battle DOJ  and win.

Johnson & Johnson ordered to pay nearly $4.7B to 22 plaintiffs in talcum powder lawsuit.

Why do Baby Boomers start their own business later in life?

Microsoft may relocate jobs over Trump immigration policy.

Stocks rebound after tariff threat sell-off.

FOX NEWS OPINION

Newt Gingrich: GOP could win big in November thanks to Democrats’ radical, unrealistic immigration stance.

Ex-New York Chief Judge: It's time to end cash bail.

HOLLYWOOD SQUARED

Conservative Business Insider writer quits instead of being 'paralyzed by fear' after site deletes column defending Scarlett Johansson.

Emmys 2018 snubs, from Meghan Markle to Emilia Clarke.

Samantha Bee speaks out about crude Ivanka Trump rant, says uproar affected her ‘a lot.’

DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THIS?

Last meal of ancient 'Iceman' revealed.

Stunning biblical 'spies' mosaic discovered in Israel.

Nailed it: Man with world's longest fingernails finally clips them off.

STAY TUNED

On FOX News: 

FOX & Friends, 6 a.m. ET: Guests include: Rep. Darrell Issa; Diamond and Silk; Jason Chaffetz; Steve Hilton; South Carolina GOP congressional candidate Katie Arrington. Plus, Phillip Phillips rocks the All-American Summer concert stage!

The Story with Martha MacCallum, 7 p.m. ET: Tune in as Martha MacCallum will be live in London in anticipation of protests of Trump's trip to the U.K.

Hannity, 9 p.m. ET: Sean Hannity will be live from London, with the latest developments on President Trump's trip to Britain.

On FOX Business:

Mornings with Maria, 6 a.m. ET: Guests include: Paul Bonicelli, former foreign policy adviser for President George W. Bush; Alan Dershowitz; John Negroponte, former U.S. ambassador to the U.N.

Varney & Co., 9 a.m. ET: Former FBI official Chris Swecker; Rep. Louie Gohmert; Nigel Farage; James Carafano, vice president of the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy at the Heritage Foundation; Rep. Barry Loudermilk.

Cavuto: Coast to Coast, Noon ET: Mark Weinberg, former assistant press secretary to President Reagan; John Lonski, Moody's managing director.

The Intelligence Report, 2 p.m. ET: Presidential historian Doug Wead; Christian Whiton, former State Department envoy; Scott Martin, Kingsview Asset Management chief investment officer; Heather Zumarraga, Vision 4 Funds distributor.

Countdown to the Closing Bell, 3 p.m. ET: Kate Hoey, member of British Parliament for Vauxhall; Bill Browder, Hermitage Capital CEO; Erin Ennis, senior vice president of the U.S.-China Business Council.

On FOX News Radio:

The FOX News Rundown podcast: FBI Agent Peter Strzok faced hours of fiery questions from members of the House Judiciary Committee in a hearing carried by most of the major news outlets. Some critics wonder whether televised hearings like these are just for show. FOX News politics editor Chris Stirewalt and MediaBuzz host Howard Kurtz discuss. President Trump is in England for meetings with British Prime Minister Theresa May and Queen Elizabeth II after a tense summit with NATO allies. FOX News Radio's Simon Owen breaks down Trump's week in Europe. Plus, commentary by Dana Perino.

Want the FOX News Rundown sent straight to your mobile device? Subscribe through Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and Stitcher.

The Brian Kilmeade Show, 9 a.m. ET: Fallout from Peter Strzok's explosive hearing on Capitol Hill will be the main topic of discussion. Guests include: Rep. Ted Poe; Sen. James Lankford, Allen West, Washington Times columnist Charles Hurt and Shannon Bream. Plus, Amb. Dennis Ross with take on President Trump's trip to the NATO summit, the U.K. and preview his meeting with Putin in Helsinki.

On Fox News Weekend: 

Cavuto Live, Saturday, 10 a.m. ET: Guests include: Senate Judiciary Committee member Mike Lee on President Trump nominating Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court; former Independent Counsel Ken Starr on previously working with Kavanaugh; House Judiciary Committee member David Cicilline on fallout from FBI agent Peter Strzok’s testimony.

FOX News Sunday, Sunday, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET:  Chris Wallace will be live from Helsinki as he offers an in-depth look as President Trump and Vladimir Putin prepare to meet for their historic summit. Wallace will also preview interview with Putin scheduled on Monday.

America's News HQ, Sunday, 3 p.m.  to 5 p.m. ET: Bill Hemmer will be live from Helsinki. FOX News will have all the latest developments from our team of reporters on the ground in Helsinki, including the expectations of the Trump-Putin summit.

Special Report, Sunday, 6 p.m. ET: Bret Baier reports live from Helsinki as "Special Report's" team of reporters and panelists brings the latest developments and insight to Monday's summit between Trump and Putin.

OBJECTified, Sunday, 8 p.m. ET: Kris Jenner sits down with Harvey Levin to discuss her most cherished objects, and how she created one of the largest empires in the entertainment industry.

Life, Liberty & Levin, Sunday, 10 p.m. ET:  Host Mark Levin sits down with Shelby Steele, a conservative author and columnist, to discuss race relations, multiculturalism, affirmative action, racism, social justice and equality and how it impacts our society.

FOX News Live Coverage of the Trump-Putin Summit, Monday, 1 a.m. ET to 3 a.m. ET: With President Trump’s historic sit down with Vladimir Putin just hours away, Ed Henry tracks all the latest developments and what each side hopes to achieve in Helsinki.

#OnThisDay

1977: A blackout hits New York City in the mid-evening as lightning strikes on electrical equipment causes power to fail; widespread looting breaks out. (The electricity would be restored about 25 hours later.)

1960: John F. Kennedy wins the Democratic presidential nomination on the first ballot at his party's convention in Los Angeles, outdrawing rivals, including Lyndon B. Johnson, Stuart Symington and Adlai Stevenson.

1939: Frank Sinatra makes his first commercial recording, "From the Bottom of My Heart" and "Melancholy Mood," with Harry James and his Orchestra for the Brunswick label.

Fox News First is compiled by Fox News' Bryan Robinson. Thank you for joining us! Enjoy your day and weekend! We'll see you in your inbox first thing Monday morning.

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