Judicial Watch uncovered the demand in a public records request

Strzok wanted to maintain authorities when he joined Russia probe

Sought ability to approve national security letters, which initiate surveillance

Also wanted to keep ability to declassify information

Higher-ups approved his request

Claim Mueller probe got special authorities to target President Trump

Strzok lost his post after anti-Trump texts were revealed

FBI lawyer Peter Strzok demanded and then secured special authorities to declassify material and authorize information requests when he joined Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe, government documents reveal.

New emails obtained by Judicial Watch show Strzok negotiating with counterintelligence chief Bill Priesap before formally joining the probe.

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The documents show Strzok driving a bargain and prevailing in his demands, which related to his working authority as a deputy assistant director.

'Gents,' Strzok began his letter to a group of officials as he made his pitch.

FBI lawyer Peter Strzok was able to maintain his authority to declassify material and authorize information requests when he joined Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe

'Broadly, I need to be able to act at least in the capacity of my old CD [counterintelligence division] DAD [deputy assistant director] job – approve NSLs [national security letters], conduct [redacted] declassify information, [redacted] agent travel, requisitions, etc.' Strzok wrote in July 2017. His letter was addressed to Bill Priestap, FBI counterintelligence chief and other officials.

'Of those, the most problematic and one of the most essential is declassification authority,' Strzok wrote, The Washington Times reported.

President Donald Trump has attacked Strzok and Robert Mueller's Russia investigation

Strzok made the case for keeping his authorities in a July 2017 letter

Strzok was allowed to 'retain' his authorities

Preistap responded July 19, six days after Strzok's inquiry: 'In answer to your initial question, while assigned to the special counsel's office, you will retain your CD DAD authorities to include declassification authority.'

'Assuming the 7th floor approves, you will remain on CD's books as a fourth (floating) DAD. When you move on from your DAD position, your DAD slot will revert back to HRD [human resources department],' he added.

He ended the note by saying 'thank you,' and signed it 'Bill.'

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Tom Fitton of Judicial Watch told Fox News the key authority Strzok wanted to preserve was the ability to authorize national security letters.

'He wanted the authority to issue national security letters, which essentially are secret requests for information that fall short of needing court approval,' Fitton said.

'He also wanted – and he said this was 'essential,' which is very unusual – he wanted the ability to declassify information. He wanted to keep that ability,' he said.

Fitton told the Washington Times that 'the new emails show that Peter Strzok, an anti-Trump partisan, was given special dispensation to keep his ability to declassify documents and exercise other sensitive authorities for the Mueller special counsel operation,' Mr. Fitton told The Washington Times. 'Given his record of misconduct, one has to wonder whether he abused these authorities while working for [Special Counsel Robert] Mueller,' he said.

President Donald Trump has gone after Strzok by name on Twitte

Trump has repeatedly attacked the Russia probe as a 'witch hunt'

in Inspector General's report singled out Strzok for having written anti-Trump texts. He got reassigned and taken off the probe when the texts came out.

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Trump has repeatedly fumed about Strzok while seeking to discredit Mueller's probe. On Wednesday Trump said Attorney General Jeff Sessions should shut it down, though the White House said afterward Trump was expressing his 'opinion' but not giving an order.