In the end, former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe got away with it.
McCabe, a longtime employee and executive official for the country’s preeminent investigative force, misled investigators who probed him. A Department of Justice inspector general report and the FBI’s disciplinary office stated he improperly authorized a leak to the media regarding a federal investigation into the Clinton Foundation. On four different occasions, three of which were under oath, McCabe lied to FBI and DOJ agents.
The inspector general investigation revealed McCabe was not entirely truthful. It concluded that McCabe stated he did not authorize the leak to the media when he did. Investigators asserted he “displayed a lack of candor” when being investigated. As such, Attorney General Jeff Sessions fired McCabe; his termination was a day before he was set to retire.
Despite being caught lying, McCabe blamed his ouster on President Donald Trump. He called his firing a political move, even though he was caught lying as an investigator — while an executive of the FBI.
“Politics should never play a role in the fair administration of justice and civil service personnel decisions,” McCabe’s statement said, according to the Associated Press.
The fact McCabe received his pension is problematic.
First, federal prosecutors recommended McCabe face criminal charges. Yet, now he is being compensated for his misdeeds and criminal behavior?
Second, it’s unlikely this was his first time doing something like this. It was probably just his first time being caught. And, being one of the top officials in the FBI, an organization with the job to investigate, McCabe should have been held accountable.
Any other person in the country would have been punished. Why should McCabe get an exemption? I thought, as Nancy Pelosi routinely likes to say, no one is above the law.
McCabe’s violation should not be a partisan issue. He did something wrong, lied about it, and then tried to cover it up. If the FBI permits FBI employees to lie and cover up criminal behavior, why is there an FBI to begin with? Why are there even laws to follow?
McCabe committed a crime, lied about it, and had the privilege of being financially rewarded for his misdeeds.
