Joe.My.God. LGBT News
The Washington Post reports:
The FBI office that handles employee discipline has recommended firing the bureau’s former deputy director over allegations that he authorized the disclosure of sensitive information to a reporter and misled investigators when asked about it — though Justice Department officials are still reviewing the matter and have not come to a final decision, a person familiar with the case said.
The recommendation from the FBI’s Office of Professional Responsibility is likely to add fuel to the political fire surrounding former deputy director Andrew McCabe, who abruptly stepped down from his post earlier this year but technically remained an FBI employee.
McCabe was hoping to retire in just days, when he becomes eligible for his full benefits. If he is fired, he could lose his retirement benefits. President Trump has long made McCabe a particular target of his ire, and the recommendation to fire the former No. 2 FBI official could give him new ammunition.
BREAKING: AG Sessions reviewing recommendation to fire ex-FBI Deputy Director McCabe just days before McCabe’s formal retirement date, @PeteWilliamsNBC reports. pic.twitter.com/yzL2iSJ5gd
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) March 14, 2018
The F.B.I. disciplinary process has recommended FBI Deputy Director Andy McCabe’s termination — leaving Mr. Sessions to either accept or reverse that decision. https://t.co/eNhBizsVgy
— Adam Goldman (@adamgoldmanNYT) March 14, 2018
BREAKING: Trump, through Sessions, is trying to exact punishment against a 21-year FBI veteran he knows will be a witness against him in a criminal case by trying to have him fired days before his pension vests—a decision that may cost McCabe untold hundreds of thousands or more. https://t.co/2fkyxKMFN5
— Seth Abramson (@SethAbramson) March 14, 2018
2/ More than that, this is Obstruction or Witness Tampering—as if McCabe is fired at Trump’s direction (via Sessions) he’s substantially weakened as a corroborating witness for Comey and against Trump at any future impeachment trial for Obstruction of Justice. And Trump knows it.
— Seth Abramson (@SethAbramson) March 14, 2018
3/ More than *that*, Sessions has no authority to make this decision, as he’s recused from any decision relating to investigations of the 2016 election. Firing McCabe—a witness against Trump in a probe arising from the election—is just the sort of decision Sessions *cannot* make.
— Seth Abramson (@SethAbramson) March 14, 2018
4/ If Attorney General Sessions fires McCabe, expect Mueller to open up *another* front in his investigation, this time of Trump *and* Sessions for Obstruction. I’ve said it before and will say it again: Sessions is already a Mueller target, so he’s doing himself no favors here.
— Seth Abramson (@SethAbramson) March 14, 2018