In perhaps the biggest “dick move” in modern politics, Donald Trump directed Attorney General Jeff Sessions to fire FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe — who had just over 24 hours left on the job before he was scheduled to retire. Oh, and it was his birthday, too!
Politics
Let’s take a look at the facts:
Q: WHY DID TRUMP WANT McCABE FIRED?
A: The Deputy Director was a major player in the probe to uncover collusion between Trump and Russia during the 2016 presidential election. He is also extremely close with former FBI Director James Comey, who was also fired. Donald Trump desperately wants the investigation to end YESTERDAY, particularly since Special Investigator Robert Mueller has now subpoenaed financial records from the Trump Organization. With McCabe out of the way, that’s one less monkey off Trump’s back, one step closer to undercutting Mueller, and a defensive move to hopefully prevent investigators from seeing Trump’s financial worth and dealings.
Q: WHY DID TRUMP FIRE McCABE ONLY A DAY BEFORE HIS RETIREMENT?
A: Revenge! If the Deputy Director had been allowed to retire, he would have been eligible for a full retirement package. However, by firing him prior to his retirement, McCabe will now lose hundreds of thousands of dollars in benefits he would have been entitled to. Trump could have fired McCabe weeks ago. However, firing him a day before retirement was akin to stabbing him with a knife then twisting it for good measure.
To set up the firing and to make it appear justifiable, the Justice Department’s inspector general generated a critical report against McCabe, claiming that he misled investigators about his communications with a former Wall Street Journal reporter, who was writing a story about his role in probes tied to Hillary Clinton and the Clinton Foundation.
“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,” Sessions said in a statement.
However, McCabe immediately responded and not only denied ever misleading investigators, but let it be known that he is the victim of a hack job by Trump.
“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,” McCabe said in his statement.
“This attack on my credibility is one part of a larger effort … to taint the FBI, law enforcement, and intelligence professionals more generally.”
Politics
As a career intelligence official, McCabe is no fool. Recognizing early on that he would almost certainly come under the scorn of Donald Trump for daring to investigate him, the Associated Press is reporting that McCabe kept personal memos (similar to the notes compiled by dismissed FBI chief James Comey) describing his interactions with Trump. Those memos will almost assuredly make their way to the desk of Robert Mueller and could now make the Deputy Director a crucial witness in the Trump investigation.
In response to the “dick move” by Trump and Sessions, former CIA Director John Brennan, an outspoken Trump critic, laid into “The Donald” with a public Twitter tizzy:
“When the full extent of your venality, moral turpitude, and political corruption becomes known, you will take your rightful place as a disgraced demagogue in the dustbin of history. You may scapegoat Andy McCabe, but you will not destroy America…America will triumph over you.”
DJ, I hope you don’t mind? Since we’re talking about Trump, I prefer calling it the LITTLEST “dick move in modern politics.” And your main point is well stated: “Trump could have fired McCabe weeks ago. However, firing him a day before retirement was akin to stabbing him with a knife then twisting it for good measure.” Now let me be clear. Given what’s been reported about McCabe’s dirty role in helping to undermine Hillary’s presidential campaign, in the lead-up to election day, he gets NO sympathy from me. But to stick it to him just hours before he was set to retire!?! That’s just vicious. And so “Trumpian.” I do feel for McCabe’s family (his wife and kids) because there is no way their lives aren’t directly impacted by Trump’s LITTLEST “dick move.” And I think Brennan summed it up perfectly: “When the full extent of your venality, moral… Read more »