A top FBI agent last spring expressed skepticism about the burgeoning investigation into Trump associates’ ties to Russian electoral meddling, according to a newly released text message, a few months before his texts critical of the president cost him his role in the special counsel’s probe.

The agent, Peter Strzok, sent a message to a colleague suggesting he was hesitant to join Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s recently formed team because “my gut sense and concern is there’s no big there there.”

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