Friday, March 16, 2018

FBI's McCabe Fired

Statement of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, as reported three hours ago by Fox News. Releasing controversial information on Friday night is classic Washington timing. Sessions' statement:
Pursuant to Department Order 1202, and 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.

After an extensive and fair investigation and according to Department of Justice procedure, the Department’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) provided its report on allegations of misconduct by Andrew McCabe to the FBI’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR).

The FBI’s OPR then reviewed the report and underlying documents and issued a disciplinary proposal recommending the dismissal of Mr. McCabe. Both the OIG and FBI OPR reports concluded that Mr. McCabe had made an unauthorized disclosure to the news media and lacked candor − including under oath − on multiple occasions.

The FBI expects every employee to adhere to the highest standards of honesty, integrity, and accountability. As the OPR proposal stated, "all FBI employees know that lacking candor under oath results in dismissal and that our integrity is our brand."
McCabe was no. 2 under James Comey, who Trump fired 10 months ago, triggering the Mueller investigation. He was the "Andy" in whose office political things were discussed which were later referenced in emails between lovers Strozk and Page.

Two things are important to note: first, firing McCabe was the FBI's idea, and second, the person who promoted and supervised him - Comey - bears responsibility for his malfeasance. Trump, of course, is delighted.