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FBI ex-deputy director Andrew McCabe sacked days before retirement FBI ex-deputy director Andrew McCabe sacked days before retirement
(35 minutes later)
Former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe has been sacked days before he could retire with pension rights.Former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe has been sacked days before he could retire with pension rights.
He was fired by US Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who said an internal review found he leaked information and misled investigators.He was fired by US Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who said an internal review found he leaked information and misled investigators.
Mr McCabe denied the claims and said he was being targeted because of his involvement in the inquiry into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election.Mr McCabe denied the claims and said he was being targeted because of his involvement in the inquiry into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election.
Mr Trump has long accused Mr McCabe of bias in favour of the Democrats.Mr Trump has long accused Mr McCabe of bias in favour of the Democrats.
He immediately praised Mr Sessions' decision to fire him.He immediately praised Mr Sessions' decision to fire him.
In December, the president appeared to taunt the number two at the FBI, when he tweeted: "FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe is racing the clock to retire with full benefits. 90 days to go?!!!" In December, the president appeared to taunt the then number two at the FBI, when he tweeted: "FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe is racing the clock to retire with full benefits. 90 days to go?!!!"
Why was McCabe fired?Why was McCabe fired?
Mr Sessions, who heads the justice department, said the decision had been taken "after an extensive and fair investigation" into Mr McCabe. The FBI deputy director had officially stepped down in January while the review took place. Mr McCabe had been under an internal investigation into the FBI's handling of two key inquiries during the 2016 presidential campaign - the revelations that Hillary Clinton had used a private email server while secretary of state and suspicions that Russia was interfering to help Mr Trump win the presidency.
He said the internal report had concluded that Mr McCabe had "made an unauthorised disclosure to the news media and lacked candour - including under oath - on multiple occasions". He stepped down from his role as deputy director in January because of the review, and had remained on the FBI's books ahead of his expected retirement.
The report has not been released but it is thought to refer to an interview Mr McCabe authorised between two FBI officials and a journalist in October 2016 to explain the agency's position in an inquiry into Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server while secretary of state. His sacking came late on Friday night. Mr Sessions, who heads the justice department, said it was the result of "an extensive and fair investigation" by his department and the FBI.
In a statement 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 Sessions said the report had concluded that Mr McCabe had "made an unauthorised disclosure to the news media and lacked candour - including under oath - on multiple occasions".
Mr McCabe has been on leave since he stepped down, but has remained on the FBI's books ahead of his expected retirement. The report has not been released but it is thought to refer to an interview Mr McCabe authorised between two FBI officials and a Wall Street Journal reporter in October 2016 to explain the agency's position in the Clinton emails inquiry.
He has been with the bureau for two decades and was eligible for retirement on a federal pension from Sunday, when he turns 50. His sacking now puts that pension in doubt. He was then subsequently interviewed by the justice department's inspector general.
How did he respond? How did McCabe respond?
Mr McCabe issued a lengthy statement vehemently rejecting the allegations against him and denouncing what he described as a campaign of attacks on his credibility. Mr McCabe has issued a lengthy statement vehemently rejecting the allegations against him and denouncing what he described as a campaign of attacks on his credibility.
He insisted he had done nothing wrong in organising the October 2016 interview, arguing he had gone to great lengths to ensure he was truthful and accurate in a subsequent inquiry into the matter. He insisted he had done nothing wrong in organising the October 2016 interview, saying "it was the type of exchange with the media that the Deputy Director oversees several times per week".
"The big picture is a tale of what can happen when law enforcement is politicized, public servants are attacked, and people who are supposed to cherish and protect our institutions become instruments for damaging those institutions and people," he said. He said of the subsequent justice department investigation that he tried to answer the questions "truthfully and accurately" and "when I thought my answers were misunderstood, I contacted investigators to correct them".
"The big picture is a tale of what can happen when law enforcement is politicized," he went on to say.
"Here is the reality: I am being singled out and treated this way because of the role I played, the actions I took, and the events I witnessed in the aftermath of the firing of James Comey.""Here is the reality: I am being singled out and treated this way because of the role I played, the actions I took, and the events I witnessed in the aftermath of the firing of James Comey."
Mr Comey was fired as head of the FBI in May last year by the president, who cited his handling of the Clinton email investigation.Mr Comey was fired as head of the FBI in May last year by the president, who cited his handling of the Clinton email investigation.
Mr Comey later told a Senate hearing that the president had requested his "loyalty", amid an ongoing FBI investigation into allegations that Russian interference in the presidential election was designed to help Mr Trump. Mr Comey later told a Senate hearing that the president had requested his "loyalty", amid the FBI probe into Russian interference in the election.
In his statement, Mr McCabe alleges that the release of the report recommending his own firing was "accelerated" after he indicated that he would corroborate Mr Comey's version of events. Mr McCabe alleges that the release of the justice department report recommending his firing was "accelerated" after he indicated that he would corroborate Mr Comey's version of events.
Why did Trump object to McCabe?Why did Trump object to McCabe?
Mr Trump has been a frequent critic of Mr McCabe, whom he accuses of political bias in his roles in the Russia and Clinton email investigations.Mr Trump has been a frequent critic of Mr McCabe, whom he accuses of political bias in his roles in the Russia and Clinton email investigations.
He has publicly pointed to donations Mr McCabe's wife, a Democrat, received from a Clinton ally when she ran for the Senate in 2015. He has publicly pointed to donations that Mr McCabe's wife, a Democrat, received from a Clinton ally when she ran for the state Senate in Virginia in 2015.
In his statement, Mr McCabe said he and his family had been targets of an "unrelenting assault" in the media to undermine his reputation, and said Mr Trump's tweets had "amplified and exacerbated it all". Shortly after he had fired Mr Comey, Mr Trump reportedly invited Mr McCabe to the Oval Office and asked him who he voted for in the 2016 election.
Mr McCabe, in his statement on Friday, said he and his family had been the targets of an "unrelenting assault" in the media to undermine his reputation, and said Mr Trump's tweets had "amplified and exacerbated it all".
Why has it happened now?Why has it happened now?
With time ticking until his official retirement, pressure has been building on Mr Sessions to make a move. Mr McCabe had been with the FBI for two decades and was due to retire on Sunday, the day he turns 50 and can claim his federal government pension.
On Thursday White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said any decision for his dismissal should be made by the Attorney General. It is not clear how much of his pension he might lose as a result of Mr Sessions' announcement.
"That's a determination that we would leave up to Attorney General Sessions," she said. White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Thursday said it was for the attorney general to decide Mr McCabe's future.
"But we do think it is well documented that he has had some very troubling behaviour and by most accounts a bad actor and should have some cause for concern." "But," she added, "we do think it is well documented that he has had some very troubling behaviour and by most accounts a bad actor and should have some cause for concern."