Justice Dept. paused Trump's deposition in lawsuit by former FBI agent Peter Strzok

Until July 2017, Peter Strzok worked forthe FBI on special prosecutor Robert Mueller 's investigation into the link between Donald Trump and the Russian government for the 2016 presidential election. His assignment was cut short when messages criticizing the president and his supporters were discovered, for which he was fired in 2018.

Months later, he filed a lawsuit with the Department of Justice (DOJ), alleging that he had been improperly fired, resulting in a case in which Trump himself must testify. However, it now appears that his testimony, originally scheduled for May 24, will be postponed.

The DOJ asked the judge in the case to delay the former president's deposition, prioritizing the testimony of FBI Director Christopher Wray. The reason? "It could obviate the need for any deposition for former President Trump," the government said.

Specifically, the Department of Justice requested "that the Court order that Mr. Wray's deposition be conducted first, and that the deposition of the former Chairman not be authorized until the Court has the benefit of the transcript of Director Wray's deposition."

A federal judge ruled in February that both Trump and Wray should testify in the case for two hours.

As reported by CNN, it was never proven that the current presidential candidate played a major role in his dismissal. Instead, the decision went through David Bowdich, then deputy director of the agency. He made the decision despite the FBI's employee disciplinary office recommending that he only be suspended for 60 days or demoted.

Who also left her position because of the fact was attorney Lisa Paige, with whom Strzok exchanged messages criticizing both Trump and his supporters. The former agent officially filed his lawsuit in August 2019, expressly asking for reinstatement and back pay.

According to him, the messages that caused his termination were protected by the First Amendment. "It is undisputed that his termination was the result of Trump's relentless retaliatory campaign of false information, attacks and direct appeals to senior officials," Aitan Goelman, Strzok's attorney, said at the time.