You may recall that in 2018, Andrew G. McCabe was the F.B.I’s deputy director and had an active role in the Russia investigation. Then-President Trump excoriated him over that role, referring to him as an agent of the deep state.
Jeff Sessions, the attorney general at the time, fired Mr. McCabe on March 16, 2018, literally hours before his pension was to vest. Trump cheered the firing, tweeting: “Andrew McCabe FIRED, a great day for the hard working men and women of the FBI - A great day for Democracy.”
McCabe filed suit, claiming that his firing was political retaliation. In other words, this was Trump using his presidential office to punish an enemy. The lawsuit proceeded in typical fashion, but then things got quiet. This is often an indication of action occurring behind the scenes—which was exactly the case.
Last week we found
out why it had been so quiet. The Justice Department settled the case, which
included reversing McCabe’s firing.
Under the terms
of the settlement, McCabe will now officially retire, receive his pension and
other retirement benefits AND receive around $200,000 in the pension benefits
he should have received since he was improperly fired.
There’s more. Any
mention of his firing in the personnel records of the F.B.I. are going to be expunged
and he will receive the typical plaudits given a senior executive who retires
with honor: cuff links and a plaque with his mounted F.B.I. credentials and
badge.
It took three years, but Andrew G. McCabe
was vindicated.
We also know how Jeff Sessions was
rewarded for doing Trump’s bidding in the McCabe firing. Trump endorsed his
opponent, Tommy Tuberville, in the ensuing Alabama Republican Senate primary.
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