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| Former FBI deputy head Andrew McCabe sacked | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| US Attorney General Jeff Sessions has fired FBI official Andrew McCabe, who had been accused of political bias by President Donald Trump. | US Attorney General Jeff Sessions has fired FBI official Andrew McCabe, who had been accused of political bias by President Donald Trump. |
| In January Mr McCabe resigned as deputy director and was placed on leave. | In January Mr McCabe resigned as deputy director and was placed on leave. |
| He had been deeply involved in the FBI investigations into Hillary Clinton's use of email and Russia's alleged meddling in the presidential campaign. | He had been deeply involved in the FBI investigations into Hillary Clinton's use of email and Russia's alleged meddling in the presidential campaign. |
| The sacking comes two days before his 50th birthday, when he was expected to retire with pension rights. | |
| The move was recommended by an internal investigation, which concluded that Mr McCabe had "made an unauthorised disclosure to the news media". | |
| In a statement issued late on Friday Mr Sessions said: "Based on the report of the Inspector General, the findings of the FBI Office of Professional Responsibility, and the recommendation of the Department's senior career official, I have terminated the employment of Andrew McCabe effective immediately." | In a statement issued late on Friday Mr Sessions said: "Based on the report of the Inspector General, the findings of the FBI Office of Professional Responsibility, and the recommendation of the Department's senior career official, I have terminated the employment of Andrew McCabe effective immediately." |
| Mr McCabe called his dismissal an attack on his credibility, and said it was part of a "larger effort" to discredit the US intelligence community. | |
| He said he believed was being "singled out" because of the events he witnessed and the role he played in the aftermath of the firing of last year of then-FBI director James Comey. | |
| Mr Trump dismissed Mr Comey in July last year over his handling of the inquiry into Mrs Clinton's emails. | |
| But Mr Trump's Democratic critics said he was being punished for the FBI's investigation into alleged links between the Trump presidential campaign and Russia. | |
| Mr Trump has frequently criticised Mr McCabe and in December tweeted: "FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe is racing the clock to retire with full benefits. 90 days to go?!!!" |