NBC: FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe Stepping Down

on December 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. — WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 21: Federal Bureau of Investigation Deputy Director Andrew McCabe (2nd L) is escorted by U.S. Capitol Police before a meeting with members of the Oversight and Government Reform and Judicia... WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 21: Federal Bureau of Investigation Deputy Director Andrew McCabe (2nd L) is escorted by U.S. Capitol Police before a meeting with members of the Oversight and Government Reform and Judiciary committees in the Rayburn House Office Building December 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. McCabe testified before the House Intelligence Committee for ten hours on Tuesday. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) MORE LESS

January 29, 2018 12:42 p.m.

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FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe is stepping down, NBC News reported Monday.

According to NBC, McCabe will officially remain at the FBI until mid-March, which is when he can retire with full benefits.

The news follows reports last week that President Donald Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions pressured FBI Director Chris Wray to clean house and fire McCabe. Wray — whom Trump appointed in June to replace former Director James Comey after he fired him — threatened to resign if McCabe were fired.

Wray reportedly told Sessions he was frustrated by the pressure from the Department of Justice and the Trump administration, prompting Sessions to speak with White House lawyer Donald McGahn, who advised him to back off, according to The Washington Post.

The New York Times reported late last year that McCabe was planning to retire in early 2018.

McCabe’s decision to step down comes as Trump has publicly criticized the deputy director for months, falsely claiming in tweets that Hillary Clinton gave McCabe’s wife, Jill McCabe, “big dollars” for a Virginia state senate seat race in 2015.

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Nicole Lafond (@Nicole_Lafond) is TPM’s deputy editor, based in New York. She has also worked as the special projects editor and as a senior newswriter for TPM. She has a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University and previously covered education in central Illinois.

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maximus says:

January 29, 2018

Ruh-roh…

Donnie did it again…
clauscph says:

January 29, 2018

According to NBC, McCabe will officially remain at the FBI until mid-March, which is when he can retire with full benefits.

Flipping Donald the bird ? He is saying something…
steviedee111 says:

January 29, 2018

I guess this means Lynne Patton is up for a promotion.
erik_t says:

January 29, 2018

I wouldn’t want to put up with this clownshow, either.

I hope he’s actually stepping down and not “stepping down”.
mike_in_houston says:

January 29, 2018

He’ll walk away with full benefits. Get a higher paying job as a security consultant and write a book.

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