Agent Joe Pientka texted colleague
Curtis Heide: “People on 7th floor to include Director are fired up about this server.”
The “7th floor” refers to the most senior FBI agents and officials, who have their offices on the seventh floor of bureau headquarters in Washington.
“Did you guys open a case? Reachout and put tools on?” Pientka asked. “If not I will call Dan as Bill Priestap says it's not an option – we must do it.”
Bill Priestap was the assistant director of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division at the time.
“Roger,” Heide replied. “we are opening a counterintelligence case today.”
Later in the day, Pientka told Heide that a unit would be assigned to the case shortly, adding, “go forth and conquer.” He then referred Heide to FBI agent Nate Batty, who Pientka said was in possession of thumb drives handed over to Baker by Sussmann.
“Can you hit him up?” Pientka asked.
“Alright,” Heide answered, “we’ll get him to push them to us … he’ll know how to do that.”
“Word,” Pientka responded, later adding in subsequent messages: “Sweet. Thanks from us to all.”