Posted on 01/29/2018 10:04:14 AM PST by Signalman
FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, who was expected to retire in the coming months, is stepping down, according to multiple reports.
A career civil servant who was appointed deputy director in 2016, McCabe has been a frequent target of Republicans alleging systemic bias against President Trump at the top tiers of the bureau.
McCabe oversaw the controversial investigation into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server. The GOP has accused him of a conflict of interest in that case because his wife accepted nearly $500,000 in political donations from Clinton ally Terry McAuliffe in a state legislature bid that predated the investigation.
The Washington Post first reported McCabe's intention to retire when he became eligible for pension benefits, in early March. Trump, who has been among McCabe's fiercest critics, characterized the move as "racing the clock to retire with full benefits."
A spokesperson for the FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Trump as early as July had called for McCabe's ouster, demanding, "Why didn't A.G. Sessions replace Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe, a Comey friend who was in charge of Clinton investigation?"
"How can FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, the man in charge, along with leakin James Comey, of the Phony Hillary Clinton investigation (including her 33,000 illegally deleted emails) be given $700,000 for wifes campaign by Clinton Puppets during investigation?" he tweeted in December.
As a civil servant, McCabe cannot be fired without clear evidence of wrongdoing.
According to documents release by the bureau in November, although McCabe recused himself from state corruption cases in Virginia as a result of his wife's candidacy, he was not warned by bureau officials to step back from the Clinton investigation.
Then the assistant director in charge of the Washington field office, McCabe "provided personnel resources" to the email investigation but "was not told what the investigation was about" until he was appointed deputy directormonths after the Virginia election had concluded.
McCabe briefly ran the bureau after Trump fired former director James Comey, prior to the appointment of current director Chris Wray.
He has weathered one of the most controversial periods in the FBI's history, as Republicans have continued to argue that it inappropriately tried to tip the scale in Clinton's favor in the 2016 election.
He skyrocketed back into the public view after a series of texts from a former member of special counsel Robert Muellers team added fuel to Republican claims of bias at the bureau.
The agent, Peter Strzok, disparaged political figures of both parties in the texts, including Trump, whom he called an idiot. The agent was removed from Mueller's team earlier this year.
Republicans are also seeking to make public a controversial memo authored by committee chair Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) alleging surveillance abuses at the Department of Justice. McCabe is reported to be mentioned by name in the document.
Andrew McCabe cuts across every facet of every investigation in 2016 that your viewers are interested in from Secretary Clintons emails to the investigation into the Trump campaign, Gowdy told Fox News in December.
Cockroaches running before the memo???
Poop, meet the fan.
OMG, I just read he was escorted out. did not resign!
Wray saw the memo yesterday - forced his hand
Suffering the horrific penalty of losing 2.5 months pay while securing a full pension is more than human should have to bear./s
Seriesly??
Looks like he made it.
Remember The Donald tweeted “will McCabe last until March retirement date?”
Oh. I was listening to Rush and thought he said McCain was out.
This is good too.
Wow. This is pretty big news. What did Q have to say about this?
What’s that gurgling noise in the distance? Sounds like something draining.....
Link?
LOL. Maybe somebody else counted his "comp days" and yanked him out.
The gathering storm.
He's not losing anything. Accrued vacation and leave time will cover his salary up to his retirement date.
This is Hugh.
As a civil servant, McCabe cannot be fired without clear evidence of wrongdoing
well, I guess hes implicated in the long awaited memo. No, I dont think he will get his full retirement. Hopefully, no retirement and a 10 x 12 cell in the pen. Next door to Comey, who will be next door to Hillary, who will be next door to Obama, who will be next door to Lerner, etc., etc., etc.
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