John Brennan and Samantha Power's recent tweets in response to this firing are truly frightening. Reminiscent of the reaction from some in the intelligence community (and former intelligence community) when President Kennedy fired CIA Director Allen Dulles and threatened to break the CIA into 1,000 pieces. We all know what then happened to the elected President Kennedy; RFK; and MLK, Jr.
Given what we know about CIA and FBI lies to the Warren Commission; to the House Select Committee on Assassinations; what we know about John Brennan's own lies in 2014 to the Senate Oversight Committee about the torture memo; John Brennan's lies under oath this past year (not to mention former NSA Director Jim Clapper's lies under oath a few years ago), it is clear that the unelected Deep State seems to put their own interests above the American people and above the legislators who authorized creation of these agencies & tasked with oversight.
Would have much preferred Rand Paul (or even maybe Ron Wyden) over Donald Trump but let's put politics aside for once and realize just how disturbing it is for former intelligence community members to now be openly threatening the elected President.
5
McCabe is a dirty cop. He lied under oath. He has to go. Sorry.
4
Sessions lied under oath.
Trump has lied to Americans repeatedly. Dirty President.
17
If you look up definitions for "Sundowner Syndrome", you'll find that it afflicts dementia patients at night, causing them to become agitated and quite belligerant. I would question if President Trump is not in the throes of the early onset of dementia (Alzheimers, etc.), given his penchant for late-night tweets & bizarre rants that often contradict other White House messages that are often issued just hours earlier.
At any rate, Mr. McCabe does not deserve to be ruined at the hands of a president whose sanity at this point is very questionable. The House & Senate should seriously be looking at how to handle a Constitutional crisis right now, rather thadismn simply reacting to Trump's everyday antics with a dismissive "that's just Trump" attitude.
I just hope that Mr. Mueller can weather this storm long enough to get his findings in front of the American people. (At the rate this is accelerating, I can't be sure of it though.)
6
Deserving to be fired or not, this tweet is incredibly rude and just plain nonsense. This is an historic low for America. I will never understand how such a person became president.
7
Creepy little Jeff Sessions trying to worm his way back into his boss's good graces.
This maneuver will go down in the history books as a very low moment indeed for Jeff Sessions. For Trump's legacy "just another day at the office."
I can barely read this crrp anymore. I am worried that many of us are going to fall prey to the exhaustion of just taking it all in. Of course, that is the plan, that there is constant chaos and upheaval and so many acts going on under the big tent at once that one doesn't know where to even look any more.
Russia, China, Iran, North Korea -- all rubbing their hands together in glee, meanwhile. SAD
7
This is the cookie cutter pattern of how tyranny starts. It's in your face America! And 40% of you embrace it.
8
Just saw The Death of Stalin. To paraphrase Nikita Khrushchev (in a milder tone) “The choice is his ouster or his revenge”.
4
McCabe's wife took nearly $700,000 campaign donations from Democrat Party and Clinton connected sources while he was overseeing the investigation into Hillary Clinton's email scandal. In a rational world that would be considered a bribe, especially since Virginia law permits candidates to keep any unspent funds. So rather than being surprised that Andrew McCabe was fired, we should be surprised that he's not in prison.
6
Trump took $30 million from the NRA.
10
Nasty. ugly spite work. They waited until 24 hours before McCabe's 20 years was in so he could get his retirement which coincided with his 50th birthday.
There's an offer on the table from a Democrat Congressman to McCabe to take a temporary job in some manner of election work on to give McCabe his needed time to collect his pension. Let's hope that can happen.
5
Trump has reached a new low with this one. The people of the United States deserve better than to have a vitriolic, amoral, narcissist, occupying the white house. How has America come to this?
7
If my wife received a $700,000 contribution to pursue her dream job, I would know that I am not the right person to examine whether those contributors may have committed crimes and misdemeanors. A simple recusal from such involvement would have left Mr McCabe job and his reputation safe and honorable. Arrogance is a terrible curse.
4
Jared Kushner has little candor when filling out security applications.
Don the Con lies like a rug.
Sarah Huckabee has an extraordinarily extended nose.
So the same Inspector general that treated America to private, confidential texts between adulterous FBI agents, now suddenly finds flaws in Andy McCabe's expression of his First Amendment rights to the Wall Street Journal??
Our current Administration is despicable.
10
The irony is that McCabe is a scrupulously honest Patriot committed to the law and the constitution and that Sessions was less than forthcoming in his Senate testimony. Trump is of course a serial liar.
It seems that honor,the truth and justice had another bad day in this abysmal administration.
6
Well, we've now seen a prime example of cowardice under fire: Sessions firing McCabe. If Sessions thinks this will save him, he's delusional. There's always next week, or, maybe trump will keep him around for batting practice, with him as the ball.
Trump, who we know can only fire people by Twitter, is assembling the Cabinet he has dreamed of. Gone or going are recommendations and in come the folks who will yes him to death. Maybe if Elaine Chau gets the axe, Mitch will grow a backbone.
What we have is a gov of embarrassment. Trump is going full force and doesn't care that the people, and the world, knows he lies and is proud of it. His rallies boast his greatness and denigrate his enemies. There isn't a shred of decency or character in him.
Andrew McCabe- time to take to the airways- show those memos. Babe the hero that Congress refuses to be.
3
If anyone doubted that Trump aspires to be a US Duerte, a mean-spirited vindictive tyrant.....Mr. McCabe's firing leaves no doubt.
The charges seem bogus from the outset and Sessions was doing Trump's bidding from his own doghouse.
--Talking to the press? McCabe is one of the heads that determines who can do so; therefore he by definition could not do it w/o proper authorization.
--Lack of candor under oath? Interesting charge. Somewhere between reticent and lying under oath? Sounds like it is in the ear of the listener, a judgement call which ...just like Nune's Memo can be played partisanly by selective edits.
What's the bet that a court will decide in McCabe's favor....unless McConnell gets all the unfit judges he wants?
Banana republic? We are one now under Trump.
8
makes me sick how mean spirited this administration is.. I am hoping and betting on karma.
21
AG Sessions: McCabe "lacked candor--including under oath--on multiple occasions."
An example of Mr. Sessions' own candor under oath in testimony before the Senate Subcommitee, June 2017, regarding contact with Russian or other government officials while campaigning (e.g., at Mayflower Hotel convention):
"No. I've racked my brain to make sure I could answer those questions correctly and I did not. I would just offer for you that the—when asked about whether I had any meetings with Russians by the reporter in March, we immediately recalled the conversation and the encounter I had at the convention and the meeting in my office and made that public. I never intended not to include that. I would have gladly have reported the meeting and encounter that may have occurred and some say occurred in the Mayflower if I had remembered it or if it actually occurred, which I don't remember that it did."
Mr. Sessions also mentioned multiple times (40-plus?) that he couldn't recall something because he didn't have a very good memory.
Sent from my iPhone
14
There is an absurd double standard with Republicans and especially this administration. There seems to be no way to do anything about it but vote Republicans out.
5
When Trump was elected was a sad day for democracy and our country.
Boy I would love to read the notes McCabe prepared from his meetings/interactions with Trump. They must be a humdinger.
13
Failure of candor?
Trump and Sessions, not McCabe.
12
AP is reporting that former CIA Director Brennan tweeted to Trump:
"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."
Ah yes – karma is a powerful thing. What goes around comes around.
Can we please fire trump - sooner rather than later - and take away his pension??
23
It would be interesting to see how Trump's "fired, forced out or resigned" list compares to our previous 5 or 6 presidents' similar lists, over the same period of time.
5
AG Sessions has saved the FBI.
America desperately needs the FBI, and the FBI desperately needs to retire the public trust and confidence to be effective at protecting America.
The FBI damaged itself when it spent more time chasing down phony Russian collusion, instead of following up on leads they ignored about the Parkland shooter. These were self-inflicted wounds. When FBI Agents placing a higher priority on taking down a duly elected President becaue they don’t agree with his politics, over the lives of children, something needed to be done.
By firing McCabe, all FBI agents have been given a strong message that they need to check their politics at the door. I believe most of the FBI agents are good and honest people, but when McCabe, Comey, Strzok and his mistress are part of a Deep State conspiracy, it shakes the country at its foundation.
Thank You Jeff Sessions.
11
Do you have any proof for any of these assertions?
11
Funniest words here - "phony" and "duly elected".
8
How about 17 dead children?
6
As a Canadian I deeply care about our American friends and I can tell you that many, many of your up north neighbours feel your pain. But things keep getting worse. And nothing is done. For crying out loud, I'm not even an American and I've subscribed to the NY Times and contributed to the ACLU. Isn't it time that your elected representatives were held to account? Anyone who supports Trump should be voted out of office at the earliest opportunity.
27
We are trying, protesting, and supporting truthful publications! Thank you for your support.
4
Since there might be a case of witness tampering in the abrupt endings of the careers of FBI Directors and Assistant Directors who had first or second-hand knowledge of President Trump's conversations with former Director Comey, these former and current FBI officials might consider entering a Witness Protection Program. (Our country certainly needs protecting!)
6
Sessions may go to jail for his actions. This insanity is Trump’s way of trying to stop Mueller. Too late though. He’s fired, lied to and burned too many people. There is no lack of evidence of Trump’s guilt on obstruction and collusion is clearly where Mueller is focused now.
6
"Mr. McCabe is accused in a yet-to-be-released internal report of failing to be forthcoming about a conversation he authorized between F.B.I. officials and a journalist."
"Failing to be forthcoming?" He lied to Justice Department IG investigators...and for that, the FBI's Office of Professional Responsibility recommended his termination.
5
Of course Trump has form in this regard. Marla Maples was fired as wife #2 a few months before the pre-nup was due to go up a notch. Two days is cutting it fine even by Trumpian standards but who really believes that he just stood back and let Justice take its course?
10
Trump in 2017 on the subject of re-opening the HRC email probe: “I have (the) absolute right to do what I want to do with the Justice Department...”
1
Mr. McCabe is the epitome of the career Washington bureaucrat who puts personal advancement ahead of the oath he swore upon becoming an FBI agent. The email sent by McCabes cohort FBI lawyer Lisa Page to FBI special agent Peter Strzok highlights their thinking by saying in February 2016 that she “might be our next president.” “The last thing you need [is] going in there loaded for bear,” Page continued. “You think she’s going to remember or care that it was more [DOJ] than [FBI]?”
All three relied upon the veil of governments ability to hide their misdeeds from public scrutiny through redaction and top secret classification to protect them in furtherance of their careers. Release of the inspector generals report concerning Mr. McCabe's malfeasance is imminent. If I were hew, I’d be less worried about the loss of my pension than the prospect of facing jail time for actions exponentially more serious than those his pals accused General Flynn with.
6
Flynn sold out th US to Russia, Turkey and goodness knows who else. Doesn't get any more serious.
2
Tis a pity the FBI has lost credibility due to corrupt scoundrels at the very top. These criminals need to be feel the same force of law as any criminal. Absent this, all is lost..
7
You have some proof of these supposed wrong doings? Anything that would hold up in a fair and open trial?
9
It's only lost credibility with people that read right wing media's trashing of our democracy
2
Horrifying event--inhumane. Attention citizens: the McCabe firing and the other disappeared ducks in a row before him are the "democratic" version of dead bodies on park benches. Once we get to that point, all is lost.
6
By all accounts McCabe was a political actor in an agency that needs to be free of such partisanship. He and others never thought various emails, texts and documents would become public because they assumed Hillary would win and any bad behavior would be kept quiet. Of course he was less than candid to the Inspector General (translation - he lied) - what choice did he have if he wanted to escape with his pension?
7
By Trump accounts.
Leadership of FBI all Republicans.
1
All accounts? That's quite an assertion. What evidence do
you have to support such a contention?
What is wrong with readers. Of course he didn't lose his pension. He lost a portion of his pension and will get a very nice monthly payiment., I would think folks would be happiy that a guy near the top of the FBI got canned when he played politics with Hillary to get money for his wife. Whyi are you upset and even outraged. It is the best thing that could happen to my tax money./
4
McCabe is a Republican.
James Comey is a Republican.
Robert Mueller is a Republican.
26
Can the GOP see the writing in the hallway? This way to Tea Pot Dome International!
Harding got to stroke out, but he left a cabinet full of crooks, crooked oil men and congressional chumps for us to shout about for the next two elections! Took until Eisenhower for the GOP and oil companies to salvage their reputations.
See they sold the US to US oil barons, but Trump is trying to sell US to the Russians!
9
The president is a clear & present danger to our country. And those who continue to support him are despicable. Hillary Clinton was right but too polite.
14
Just another circus act in the clown car called trump. It's ironic that trump, who would call NY media under a false identity to provide false info about himself, is now firing someone who contacted the media with true info about him.
18
Shame, shame, shame! This is my pick for most mean-spirited action taken by this administration yet!
18
@Donald Trump @Vladimir Putin "As the House Intelligence Committee has concluded, there was no collusion between Russia and the Trump Campaign. As many are now finding out, however, there was tremendous leaking, lying and corruption at the highest levels of the FBI, Justice & State." #DrainTheSwamp
1:11 PM - Mar 17, 2018
3
I am so dispirited, demoralized, disgusted, dragged down by these events. All flowing from a White House so compromised, a GOP full of obsequious sycophants, a CIC who is breaking our Constitution daily and “leading” the nation off a cliff toward anarchy and despotism.
I fear the future. I am old and can do little more than write, while caring for a husband slowly dying of a genetic lung condition.
God help us all!
62
TheraP,
We'll get through this- Robert Mueller is making great progress and November will be here before you know it. Our country will survive- it always has.
Hang in there. I wish you and your husband the best. And remember to vote in November!
15
I don't believe in "God will help us all". Even if he does exist, we must help ourselves.
I too am old, but I trust in the big view of history coming around in full circle. Which it will, but only with the power of the people.
We have much more power than we know we have...the Republicans and trump don't want us to know this or use this power. But we shall!
We need to use our power and help ourselves by voting, always voting.
And constantly writing and calling our senators and representatives - they need to know that we are watching and will vote accordingly. Thy fear an informed populace who votes more than anything.
We need to fire these Republican scoundrels in Congress and take away their pensions!
10
Thera P:
I feel for you, but please don't despair. Don't give up hope and belief. Trump is a speed bump on a road that leads upward and "bends toward justice." There is a demographic tidal wave just over the horizon.
10
"Donald Trump’s personal lawyer said on Saturday he hoped the firing of the former FBI deputy director would prompt Rod Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general, to shut down the Russia investigation."
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/mar/17/donald-trump-lawyer-andr...
Rosenstein seems like a honest broker with integrity, is he next in the firing line?
Boy are they spooked. Mueller about to open the flood gates of evidence that will bring them all down? Fingers crossed.
10
Probably makes the most sense to wait for the Inspector General’s report before rushing to the defence of McCabe. All we know is the FBI’s internal professional conduct division recommended McCabe’s termination after receiving information from the the IG.
Discussions of the guy’s pension is ridiculous, btw. It’s his business what his benefits provided and couching stories in the media around the meanness of firing him before his pension kicked in is simply intentional redirecting. Why isn’t the Times digging into what the guy did that was so bad?
The one benefit of McCabe’s firing is that this developing story of potential malfeasance at the DBI DOJ is finally being dragged onto the front pages of the mainstream media.
There might be a lot of cognitive dissonance coming up.
3
What a petty, vindictive, vile little man we have in the White House. Our Democracy is under siege, there is no doubt about it. Our Republican led Congress is an enabler to all of this. I hope that voters will constantly be reminded of these horrible things being done and vote out the traitorous enablers in November to save our country,
12
Impeachment is not hard to do. They did it in Brazil, they did it in South Korea, and they just did it in Peru. We just need to elect the people who will have the courage to do it. We have a chance to do that this November. Every vote counts. The PA-18 special election proves it. We must ensure that we all come out and vote in November so we can impeach Donald and send him and his criminal gang to prison, where they belong.
11
When the New Democratic Congress draws up the Impeachment charges against the Russian Mole Trump, one of Articles should be “lack of candor” with the American people.
10
It's likely that Trump's antagonistic tweets about McCabe (going back a while) will be used as evidence of obstruction of justice in addition to this blatently political and vindictive firing.
Trump is so tormented by this investigation and will do anything to shut it down. He's acting like a guilty man. His attorneys must be at wits end.
10
Haven't you read? He's about to fire all of them and put Nixon's man in charge!
2
I trust we all recognize the sickening irony of a highly regarded career civil servant being fired for a "lack of candor" at the insistence of the most appalling pathological liar in the history of American government.
Additionally, I wonder how Sessions, allegedly recused from all matters relating to the Trump campaign's collusion with Russia, a matter in which McCabe's testimony is of central importance, is allowed to fire McCabe instead of conceding that authority to his deputy, Rod Rosenstein.
Naturally, I don't expect the derelict Congress to enforce that disregarded recusal.
With our democracy hanging by a thread, it will be truly disgusting if, as usual, over 40% of eligible voters don't bother to vote this year. It's unfair to those of us who care about the integrity of the republic that the lazy, apathetic, or muddle-headed citizens who don't cherish their right to vote get the government they deserve, while the rest of us don't.
8
It is never a good day in America when a man who devotes 21 years to working for the federal government and is then fired 24 hours before his retire day.
11
It is pretty obvious that Trump the ignorant has not heard nor read about how unsuccessful Nixon's Saturday Night Massacre was.
Perhaps Trump can go down the line until he finds a Robert Bork clone to fire Mueller. (Look how well that turned out for Bork - not a member of SCOTUS). In the meantime, Trump can keep adding fuel to the fire by ahem, firing those who are intent on seeing this investigation through.
Meanwhile, I am hoping there is a young John Dean with a photographic memory in the White House, able to tell chapter and verse, of Trump's insane and criminal activities.
One uplifting thought...we won't have to wait, as we did with Nixon, for a judge to rule on Nixon's incriminating tapes to determine his criminality. Instead, we have Trump's own irrefutable public Tweets to bring him down.
9
Mr. McCabe 's wife Jill ran for office in VA as a Democrat. at the time I believe it was reported that McCabe himself is a Republican.
time to reconsider your affiliation, Mr. McCabe?
4
Help me understand: US government FBI employee McCabe is allegedly caught lying, and is fired without his pension. US president Trump lies every day to the American people and our allies on much more serious issues, and he remains in office. Huh!?
13
I read yesterday that Democracy was dying in the world.
Well it sure is in America.
Fight for America and democracy.
VOTE, VOTE , VOTE in 2018
12
You are absolutely correct!
None of us have any right to complain if we don't get off our couches and vote.
Saying that "my vote won't make a difference" is totally wrong.
Remember the presidential election when several hundred votes in Florida permitted the Supreme Court to throw the election from Gore to Bush? How different the world would have been without trillions on the unnecessary invasion of Iraq? And what we could have had with a carbon tax to avert global warming? And keeping the minister of evil, Dick Cheney far away from power.
More recently, look at the Pennsylvania race - over a couple hundred votes made the Democrat a winner over the trump-supported Republican.
Say it again: VOTE, VOTE, VOTE IN 2018.
7
lack of candor??? is this some new standard? he should be indited for lack of candor then.
1
Tillerson, then McCabe, then Rosenstein, then Mueller. It's clear that Trump now believes that he can get away with anything.
McCabe will sue. I have just purchased a PowrerBall ticket ($450M) and hereby vow -- the Times has my contact info -- that if I win, I will personally pay McCabe's legal fees and set up a trust to pay his pension. This is not a joke; it's a promise. McCabe is a public servant who has been targeted by Trump for doing his job. He should be supported in every possible way.
What will Ryan and McConnell do? Trump is pulling the plug on what's left of our democracy because he is betting on those weasels to do -- nothing. They have their tax cuts and regulatory revocations. They know full well that the GOP will be flattened in November. So their strategy is -- the heck with Russia, our national security, the Trump campaign Facebook hack (today's news) -- let's get what we can for our wealthy voter base while the nation burns down.
Trump's base deserves no sympathy from us -- I know, because they are my relatives -- they are filled with resentment and bitterness and will call anyone capable of critical thinking an "elite." We Democrats need to kiss them off and move on. The nation is at stake and, if you didn't already know, now you know.
13
It is sadly comical to watch the president's childish efforts to avoid getting in trouble. I can't wait for the day when he tweets that it was the dog who laundered all the Russian money, cheated on the First Lady with a porn star, and ate all the Big Macs.
Unfortunately, the comical aspect is eclipsed by the grave threat to our democracy. I concur with Senator Warner that members of Congress need to speak up now to defend the investigation. The ones who are silent on this matter must have good reason to lay low.
8
So who do you believe: Sessions, who lied about his contacts with Russians, and Trump, who lies on average 5 times a day, or McGabe, with his spotless record over 20 years in the FBI? Firing him 2 days shy of his full retirement instead of allowing him to retire is classic psychopathic vindictiveness and callousness and has Trump’s fingerprints all over it. What a little little miserable man Trump is...
11
Good lord, their pettiness and vindictiveness knows no bounds.
9
These odd, cruel and sudden firings or resignations all over the White House and Washington show the presence of a dictatorship. Anything can happen now.
11
McCabe is a hero for standing up to Trump.
When the Emperor With No Clothes is finally deposed, I hope McCabe can get reinstated, What Trump has done, and it is all Trump and noone else is despicable.
Trump is a crook, he is breaking laws right and left, he is an illegitimate POTUS, he is a conman and his removal is coming soon. Everyone who has supported him are just as dirty as he is and the American people will not forget,
14
more clown tweets - this is like watching a degenerate cartoon.
7
This entire mess looks about as slimy and vindictive as it gets. We have a president who lacks credibility attacking the credibility of McCabe. Not to mention Sessions who knowingly lied to congress several times was the instrument used to advance this swamp worthy process. What a farce this presidential charade has evolved into. Trump has taken to the swamp to a new low. Is there no bottom to this putrid pit?
7
You can’t blame the mad man if the head of the Psych ward
keeps handing him the keys.
This is happening on Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell’s watch.
8
Michelle Goldberg's recent column "Burn it Down, Rex" was a call for someone, ANYONE associated with this tragic administration to speak out against the myriad travesties. Why isn't Rod Rosenstein saying something about this? We're not looking for a hero, just someone with a smidgen of integrity.
8
"Lack of candor"
This, from an attorney general who has lied before Congress many times, lied to the FBI many times, and lied to Robert Mueller's investigation - many times. I guess that means Jefferson Beauregard Sessions really knows lying, right?
7
SESSIONS fired him?
SESSIONS, isn't that the same guy who recused himself from the Russia investigation?
"The fish rots from the head down"
9
It’s a badge of honor to be fired by Trump for lying.
4
Being fired for lying is never a badge of honor. It is a criminal act in this case. A felony. It keeps you from getting a job with most employers. It is nothing to celebrate.
2
So, if "lack of candor" is a standard that the administration is using to fire government employees, shouldn't Donald Trump be fired? Or, at least he could do the right thing and resign. Liar and Chief.,..or Chief Liar.
6
Trump, the vengeful, mean-spirited anti-democratic, likely criminal president of the U.S. He's a would-be dictator, has said as much and has surrounded himself with military men.
While vengeance is Trump's immediate point, he wants to ensure "loyalty" from Mr. McCabe's successor with a compliant FBI director who will do his bidding in firing Mueller. Trump is the impetus to McCabe's firing and carrying out further obstruction of justice.
Per Mr. Trump, “I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and wouldn’t lose any voters". His election proved his statement, but by now his uninformed voters must have noticed he's a dangerous "bad hombre". The Republican congress knows he's a menace to US all and our democratic institutions. Why are they not acting?
As to Sessions? It was best not to enrage his boss, so he fired McCabe. It wouldn't surprise should himself be fired Monday.
The Republicans
6
I don't know if Andrew McCabe should have been fired. I hope there will be an article that gives more perspective on how unusual or not that is given the IG report and recommendations.
3
John Yoo got 6 months to respond, over what I would argue was far more damning accusations (like being a war criminal for giving the Bush administration license to torture with impunity). The report isn't even out yet, but Sessions fired him all the same
3
Mr. McCabe, now that you're free, please write an honest, straightforward book. Tell the world everything you know about this nasty, crooked, corrupt, and vindictive president. Millions of people will buy it, and you will not miss that retirement pension.
Even better, America and the world will benefit from knowing what you know.
7
Borrowing from Paul Simon -
Where have you gone, Pres Obama
A nation turns its lonely eyes to you
Woo, woo, woo
What's that you say, Mr Apprentice
The graceful one has left and gone away
Hey, hey, hey
Woe, woe, woe
Woe is me!
2
This is what Trump’s good at ... public humiliation of others. At least in attempt; his “number” is up and he doesn’t know it. Yet this is our president, the person representing us in the world! Trump may regard himself as a “winner” in his ways, which is, in a manner of speaking, actually correct in my view ... he’s a “winner,” all right, a real beauty!
3
If he set up the meeting through the FBI press office, what exactly was he not candid about?
1
"Mr. Sessions said that Mr. McCabe had shown a lack of candor under oath on multiple occasions." Wow! Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.
6
Con Don stole the election and became the “leader of the free world”. The leader is a narcissist child bully and his presidency circles around what’s good for him, not the people or our nation.The step against McCabe is a pure vendetta against a patript whose crime was to do the right thing. McCabe had a very distinguished career in the FBI and he was supposed to retire tomorrow. He paid the price because he did not prevent the investigaon Russia’s collusion with Trump. Now he wont be eligible for retirement pension.. Con Don forgets that he is not running Trump Tower- his job is to serve the nation and all governmental activities are paid by the tax payers. Ethically and legally he has an obligation to govern fair and objective. Alas, what can you expect from the clueless child bully. It is a shameful day for our country
2
One thing you can count on with Trump: he's never obliged the Golden Rule.
1
I am sure the Republicans in congress are outraged at this abuse of power, and are going to demand an immediate investigation into Benghazi and HRC e-mails.
9
Most Americans won't understand WHY McCabe was fired, but what everyone WILL understand is a vindictive, petty move, firing a guy a couple of days before retirement in order to jeopardize his pension. Sometimes it's the simplest thing which make the loudest statement. Like his threats of lawsuits to silence accusers, the racist, misogynistic, cowardly POTUS is reminding America how unfair and petty the rich can be.
9
This kind of thing doesn't happen in American unless, of course, there is an unqualified, gutless, thin skinned President in office who's own party won't stand up to him. Andy McCabe is a true American hero; Donald Trump is a vindictive coward.
7
What is the POTUSA afraid of?
If he is innocent of anything why all the time and money being spent on this story?
He can retain the respect of the people by showing his Tax Returns.
4
Regardless of who is right here, Americans are watching the disintegration of their country right before their eyes, as a stupid and childish man sits in the oval office, playing at being president.
9
Where does Sessions get the nerve wag his finger about “lack of candor”? The man is one more “misstatement” away from a perjury charge and debases himself currying favor to the most demonstrably dishonest president of my lifetime 9to this point anyway).
5
He was fired because he lied. The same thing Martha Stewart went to jail for.
4
What about AG sessions—- didn’t he lie, too?
6
So far, there is no way to verify it. Since Sessions has a record of lying himself, to Congress, about Russia, I am not going to take his word for it.
6
This newspaper printed months ago the lies, yes lies made by one man, who holds the highest of high positions in this country . They covered the entire page. And yes , he has lied many times more since. I would say that "Trumps" Mr. McCabe's . And if you believe this was done by any with ethics , just go back to senate interview of Sessions. He couldn't remember anything he ever did. Yet this same old man remembers everyone else's sins. Please!
3
I was hoping at the grand St. Patrick's Day parade in New York today that the many marchers representing New York's Finest and New York's Bravest would have called out Trump and Sessions for their cruel and unjust firing of a fellow civil servant today, especially for McCabe on St. Patrick's Day.
7
How ironic - Jeff Sessions who used the phrase "I do not recall" about 20 times in testifying before Congress fires someone for a lack of candor.
Congress needs to investigate this firing.
12
Funny how not ONE commenter in this thread questions why he was seeking early retirement at age 50 (Hint...because he was removed from his post, guilty of fireable offenses and wanted to get out beforehand and protect his pension and government paid healthcare). He wasn't removed from his responsibilities in January by the FBI chief for nothing, folks.
The partisan head-in-the-sand games are really unbelievable. One commenter claimed he was a 'hero' and a Go-Fund me page should be set up to give him any lost pension benefits. Lol. Yes, I'm not making that one up. Just scroll the comments for lots of loonie comments of that nature. I guess partisan politics come with blinders.
For the record, I am an Independent and distrust both the Dems and Republicans.
Comey, McCabe, Page and Strzuk's actions all indicate they felt they were above the law. If the FBI can't follow the law, then who should?
5
This is the FBI itself cleaning house of the bad apples. All those who work there know the consequences for failure to be forthcoming during any investigation, even those at the top. 2 years or 21 years doesn't matter when caught, and Mr. McCabe knew the rules. He has the right to take this to court for the rights to his pension, so time will tell if he does or remain silent.
2
You got it right there, in the last paragraph--McCabe known for his "precision and intellect." Of course, Trump and Trump supporters don't like him. "Precision and Intellect" are characteristics of alien entities that would do harm to Trumpsterism.
11
So Andrew McCabe is fired over candor questions by Jeff Sessions who, in spite of his "I do not remember" Russian-related contacts answers, has kept his job and is working for a man who, as per WaPo, as of January, 2018 has made more than 2,000 false or misleading claims over 355 days. The same man also has bragged only this week about lying to Justin Trudeau about US trade deficit with Canada.
Welcome to Trump's justice in America ...
9
He was technically fired by Sessions, but really by the president who is known for his own particular brand of candor.
2
1: jeff knows what he's talking about when he speaks of lying under oath,
2: jeff just obstructed justice, as trump did with Comey.
3: Why isn't the Inspector's report public?
4: When does Andrew file his lawsuit?
8
Ask Martha Stewart what happens when you "lack candor" in an FBI investigation. The professional internal FBI investigators recommended firing McCabe. Why would Sessions want to allow a double standard by showing leniency to agents who should know better than anyone the need for candor?
Nobody in either the Trump or Clinton camps believe the Clinton investigation was handled well. It is about time these agents, to whom we entrust so much power, were held accountable.
McCabe should be contrite about his own role in damaging the image of the FBI. He should also be concerned about going to prison which is what we commoners could expect had we engaged in similar behavior.
3
obstruction of justice: check
witness tampering: check
threatening witnesses: check
perjury: check
abuse of power: check
Where are the checks and balances from the Republicans in Congress? They need to be recalled for dereliction of duty. Democrats should help us start the paperwork and petitions. Waiting for November votes is not enough. We must start recalling these corrupt congressmen and senators now.
7
I was heartened to learn it was Republican legislators who ultimately pushed for Nixon's impeachment. They put country above party and did the right thing. Not exactly sure who in the Republican Party today is going to push for Trump's impeachment? Who will accept Mueller's findings and do what needs to be done to preserve our democracy? Sad that Kathy Griffin and Stormy Daniels have more courage than Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell.
6
With this action, the only difference between Trump and Stalin is that Trump is unable to have his enemies murdered, only dismissed from their government positions. Given the president's temperament and narcissism we should all be prepared to him to step over the line of humanity.
5
The timing of Andrew McCabe's firing was clearly political. The merits of the firing are less clear to the public and will have to wait until the full report is released later this year. There's a good accounting of the issues and problems in the current Lawfare Blog (https://www.lawfareblog.com/what-we-know-and-dont-know-about-firing-andr....
What should be noted is the extremely unusual timing of his firing, just hours before his retirement, and how rushed the process was. Under months of relentless criticism and right wing attack, McCabe had announced his retirement last December. He was already off the job and using up his banked leave.
Firing him now is punitive and probably far beyond reasonable punishment. If so, he'll easily win in court. And there are at least 20 Go Fund Me accounts for his defense that are up and running.
6
Not Garland , but Gorsuch is distinguished only in the eyes of conservatives.
Mr. Sessions fired Mr. McCabe for a lack of candor under oath. No doubt Mr. Sessions once again has forgotten his own lack of candor under oath. I guess faulty memories are only a problem to this administration when they impact the White House negatively. Stormy days are not over yet, hang on everyone!
3
Point me to the GoFundMe page for "US Citizens Happily Paying Restitution for Andrew McCabe's lost pension benefits." I'm in.
2
Your grandchildren will never attend a Donald J. Trump Elementary School or High School. There won't be any.
Trump will be remembered as a traitor and a disgrace.
Take heart.
Some day your grandchildren will attend a Robert S. Mueller Middle School or High School. Like Lincoln, Mueller will be remembered as "the man who saved the Union."
9
“In a statement released late Friday, Mr. Sessions said that Mr. McCabe had shown a lack of candor under oath on multiple occasions.” Why bless your heart, Mr. Sessions!
3
I trust we're all looking forward to Trump's having to live on $207, 900 a year (Melania gets another twenty grand), $96, 000 a year for staff, guaranteed medical care at military hospitals, and lifelong Secret Service protection.
About that last--do you get a Service detail when you're in Leavenworth?
2
Another despicable act by that immoral hate-filled Sessions. Some Christian he is. Christianity is based on love. The Sessions philosophy belongs to the very devil himself and so does he! Cutting off a man without his pension is an act of evil sin.
3
Strip away the PC and niceties....McCabe lied under oath, committed perjury and deserves indictment, trial and hard prison time. Sorry.
1
Putin is really laying it on THICK this AM. Of course, that firm who we have sanctioned is not taking that laying down! Up all night, but never to have fun.
1
With regard to FBI Director McCabe's firing, our Senators or House members should hire him as an aide for a week and give him back the time and eligibility of his full retirement under FERS.
1
And when is the "yet-to-be-released internal report" going to be released.
What's the betting it will disappear under top secret, eyes only, classified.
Or be released as one black sheet of redaction.
3
Trump is trying to overthrow our democracy. Where is Congress?
3
What’s sick is that Mr McCabe has served his duty to our country far longer and more than POTUS has and ever will.
Let us hope that when the truth comes out, the real crooks, the real traitors to our democracy will be revealed.
2
Regardless of the issues, firing someone hours before retirement is breathtaking.
We living in the dark ages---demands for fealty. Public insults and humiliation. And now this---potentially robbing a longtime public servant of his retirement.
What is next? Public flogging, Russian-style murders?....
The blatant spite, vindictiveness and cruelty is shocking.
7
It's a funny world when Jeff Sessions and Donald Trump are making judgments about candor.
7
“The F.B.I. expects every employee to adhere to the highest standards of honesty, integrity, and accountability,” he said.
Well then by those standards Mr. Sessions, you should show yourself the door!
This is getting beyond ridiculous, isn't it?
4
It is hard to believe that a number #2 at the FBI could be so dumb to text his real feelings about his utter hatred of Trump on a company phone. He never thought Trump would win and that his actions would be revealed. It is forgivable that he hated Trump and loved Hillary. We all have opinions. What is not forgivable is that he was idiotic enough to put it in writing. He is getting what he deserved. Stay tuned. The worst is yet to come.
Here comes the lawsuit that the taxpayers will end up paying for. And if Sessions thinks this is going to save him from the megalomaniac, try again. His turn is coming as Trump continues his meltdown. Some time ago I read about Trump calling McCabe in a snit because Comey flew back from LA on the government plane after being fired. He then called McCabe's wife a loser. Trump is sick.
5
I wonder if we can send mccabe money for his legal fund?
2
"...lack of candor under oath..."
"Do you swear to tell the truth, THE WHOLE TRUTH, and nothing but the truth?"
There can be no "lack of candor under oath". There is only breaking the oath, or not. And if you break the oath you go to jail. But this didn't happen here. So he didn't break the oath. So the firing is bogus.
He should sue. He should sue the U.S. government, the DOJ, the FBI, the office of the President and Donald Trump personally. He should make such a stink that DJT will think twice about meddling in law enforcement in the future.
And the best part is: it doesn't matter _one bit_ to his testimony to Bob Mueller or Congress (impeachment...). Andrew McCabe will tell the truth no matter what. He wouldn't have held back if he got his full pension, and he won't tell anything more not that he hasn't. It's the way these corrupt people, Trump at the top, think.
They assume that they can intimidate people with certain actions because they would be intimidated if in their position. But they forget that there are still honest, upright, brave men in government that won't play along in their Mafia-like games!
I hope one day this whole sorry episode will be truly and fully investigated and that lots and lots of people go to jail for it. You need a pretty serious collapse of basic human decency in a country to get to this point, and it should not go unpunished!
1
Trump doesn't know the value of a pension or commitment to one's career. My heart is breaking and at 10 PM 2 days before retirement....this is based on threat. I can't wait for Trump to be paid back and impeached. He's a pig.
10
Who cares about what happens to Andrew McCabe or James Comey after their carefully concocted malign scheme regarding the Hillary Clinton e-mail server matter?
What matters most is what happens to Deputy USAG Rod J. Rosenstein and Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller, III. Trump is bent on firing both and pardoning all as he discredits their methods and motives.
As long as the F.B.I. headquarters building in Washington, D.C. carries the name of the corrupt criminal misogynist xenophobic racist bigot J. Edgar Hoover the historical past is reasonably prologue to an evil present and future.
2
He lied under oath and he got fired.
What is the problem?
It wasn't Sessions who was fired !
3
Seriously?
3
First of all, and I'm sure many have thought, Sessions calling out anyone for not being forthright under oath, is the height of hypocrisy. Sessions is now official caught up in the Trump, propaganda war machine. One gold star for him.
Trump's comment, once again shows his basal type of self defense. Attack the accuser. He is not fooling anyone but his base.
The most interesting thing about these events is John Brennan's retort to Trump. "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."
This quote is telling. Brennan knows whats going on. Brennan doesn't parse his words. He says "when," Trump's corruption becomes known.
This should give hope, to those of us who see the danger Trump posses to our country.
6
It is rich for Sessions, who lied about his Russian contacts to the Senate, to fire McCabe for lack of candor. The hypocrisy of this administration is astounding.
6
Ridiculous claim for firing. And done in Trump's signature cruel and thoughtless way - 2 days before retirement and pension. Not only that, but to publicly humiliate and demean a career civil servant of 20 years for something that is clearly and simply yet another headline that Trump is throwing out there to the press dogs to detract attention from his family business of money laundering, collusion with Russia, obstruction of justice and his coverup with a porn star is eye-poppingly hypocritical when Trump (with the GOP's help) gets to dodge his own firing left and right. Disgraceful!
5
Has our government fallen this far? Trump can cast stones at everybody. And yet— look at his record!
4
Yea, end it because Trump has "nothing to hide" as he does everythign possible to hide as much as possible.
1
My fellow Americans: Do not allow this president to undermine our democratic institutions, including the FBI. We must resist.
6
It is of course no accident that just a few hours later, Trump's attorney calls for an end to the Mueller probe, using McCabe's firing as justification. Does Mr. Trump really believe that the other 70% of America is this stupid?
6
Session vicious act of firing McCabe to save his own skin and please a vindictive Trump won't work. He's still a dead man walking.
6
Am I the only one suspicious that Trump didn’t write his own tweet? Can’t imagine he can spell “Sanctimonious”, let alone know how to use it in a sentence. Sorry this just does read like a normal Trump Tweet!
4
The timing proves that Trump, like all bullies, is a coward.
5
All of the people who voted against Session's confirmation are and will be considered saints. That man is an abomination for our country.
4
Certainly this is cruel, creepy and corrupt. How many ways does democracy have to be subverted before we call it treason? Where are the checks and balances?
104
Checks and balances are crumbling all around us. Republicans are in total control & they will do their utmost to make it a Republican dictatorship. The writing is on the wall.
4
Ann,
The “Checks and Balances” are why McCabe is out! The FBI shouldn’t help elect a Candidate no matter how much you want that candidate to win! Just like the IRS shouldn’t penalize a particular group no matter how much you despise that group. Those are checks and balances even if they don’t allow you the result you desire!
Unfortunately, we haven't had any checks and balances from the Republican party since Trump's taken office. They're complicit in everything he does.
The only recourse we have is to vote them all out in November.
6
Firing a 21 year loyal employee 1 day before his pension?
That is just plain evil, even for the Republicans and their crazy stooge, trump.
Hopefully, what goes around comes around.
23
It's a sad day when U.S. Law Enforcement officials are being subjected to Kremlin-style smear campaigns, false charges and subterfuge in order to thwart inquiries into high level corruption. What's next, the gulag? Or are Americans going to start dying mysteriously like all the Russians?
17
Because of his lost pension, I would buy 2 copies of his books just to support him when his book comes out
13
Mr. Sessions, you are one of the last people who should denounce someone for lack of candor. I remember your several faux pas in front of the Senate committee reviewing your selection as AG under the guise of "forgetting".
16
Firing someone two days before he's scheduled to retire is not justice. It's revenge. Anyone with a functioning cerebral cortex can see that.
22
I have never witnessed a more despicable political presidential act as the McCabe firing. This decision by Trump is born in a psychic maelstrom of paranoia, sadistic retribution, counter retaliatory intimidation, narcissistic that has come to define the Trumpian Mind.
JCS
19
So far, we only have Session's word against McCabe's. I await the release of the report, so that the American public can try to decide for themselves. It is unseemly to wait until two days before his pension kicks in to fire him. The is not about democracy, only about hatred and revenge from Trump.
14
sounds like obstruction of justice to me, also witness tampering? trying to punish and discredit someone who can testify against you. and Lack of Candor! Jeff Sessions seems to be the pot calling the kettle black.
9
Contrary to Trump's declaration, Friday was a very sad day for our democracy. Our president, paranoid about a "deep state," refuses to understand that the majority of Americans did not vote for him, regardless of their partisan feelings. If Trump received 46.4% of the popular vote, then 53.6% did not vote for him. Our government agencies are in general staffed by highly qualified, educated people who perform their duties in the best interests of their country, party affiliations aside. McCabe seems to be no exception. It is odd that Sessions was tasked with the announcement and not Wray, which makes me think that Trump forced his hand as a test of loyalty and payback for recusing himself when the whole Russian investigation started.
The Stalinist purges are alive and well in the Trump White House as Mueller gets closer and closer to the truth.
16
To PTNYC--about those Party Affiliations--hmmm, thinking about Jeff Sessions and Mitch McConnell--seems I recall some behaviors on their parts that smell highly of party motivation, rather than fidelity to the constitution and the rule of law. Let us count the ways.
1
After Trump gloated over the firing of McCabe in his tweets, Trump's lawyer stated publicly: "“I pray that Acting Attorney General Rosenstein will follow the brilliant and courageous example of the FBI Office of Professional Responsibility and Attorney General Jeff Sessions and bring an end to alleged Russia Collusion investigation manufactured by McCabe’s boss James Comey based upon a fraudulent and corrupt Dossier.” After firing Comey, Trump boasted that he did it to get rid of the Russia investigation. This was quickly seen in public, and apparently investigated by Mueller, as likely obstruction of justice. So now, after firing McCabe, Trump ventriloquises through his puppet lawyer that he wants the Russia inquiry quashed. But there is no way his lawyer said that without Trump's permission. so this is yet another open public acknowledgement that the firing of a public servant was linked to Trump's efforts to quash the Mueller investiation. Firing McCabe is to encourage Rosenstein to fire Mueller. And the firing has provided an opportunity for Trump to smear the disparagement of McCabe all over the FBI, Comey and the Russia investigation. Is Rosenstein supposed to get the message that he, too, will be fired if he doesn't fire Mueller? I guess if you intend to fire the chief investigator, you don't need to be bashful about openly trying to obstruct justice.
12
McCabe lies to the FBI, on several occasions, and he thinks there should be no consequences. Just let him retire with full benefits.
You or I or Michael Flynn lie to the FBI, even unintentionally as it appears to be the case with Flynn, you go to jail.
Cry me a river.
The FBI itself recommended his firing.
If you object to his firing, you are disrespecting the professionals at the FBI.
2
Talk about cheap! Here is a billionaire depriving (or attempting to deprive) a civil servant out of his hard-earned pension. Sets some sort of record for spiteful small-mindedness.
16
Boycott Fox News and Fox in general (i.e., sports programming) until they drop their propagandist, knowingly fraudulent, and non-fact (aka alternative-fact) based programming. The only actual corruption in the Trump's Russian investigation is that of Fox News and their minions.
8
First, how petty and vindictive (and so, typical). Every move make by Trump seems to confirm his guilt and makes him look more frightened of Meuller.. Like a mob boss, he's trying to threaten. impugn and undermine the witnesses who will testify against him. It's a shame that the Justiice Department under Sessoins is going along with it.
8
Makes one wonder what the Trump knee breakers have on Sessions!
2
I have had to fire hundreds of people, some deserving, many unfortunate victims of circumstance, a few losers of power struggles. It is never a “great day” to fire anyone. The only time someone thinks that is when he personally benefits by firing someone or when he at core lacks human feeling.
“Difference of opinion is the one crime which kings never forgive.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
9
Maybe we should wait for the IG report before making McCabe into a martyr and vilifying Trump. McCabe lied under oath so I don't buy that he was a lifelong professional who only wanted to do his job. Maybe he should have thought of his pension before perjuring himself. Maybe he should also have considered the possibility that Hillary might lose and that all of this dirty laundry would come out. So I don't feel sorry for him.
2
A treasure trove for the public of the world.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/fired-fbi-officia...
3
Amazing that the White House can fire a person for not being honest? Really is crazy since there are almost daily mistruths told by the president and his press secretary. Pot calling the kettle black! I am so sad to hear what has happened to Andrew McCabe.I was taught to respect other people,places and things. It is a common courtesy and the way I like to be treated.Embarrassing when the president behaves like he does.He missed manners 101.
9
Evil, pure evil. The only way to describe Trump/Sessions. May they be repaid many times over.
10
Our country has been hijacked by Trump. We deserve better than this.
6
Actually we duly elected Trump using the mechanisms established in the Constitution. Those of us who voted for him did so precisely to change the direction of our government. A free and fair election is not a hijacking. Using political opposition research to secure a FISA warrant to spy on an opposition candidate more closely represents a hijacking of the American electoral process.
When I was nineteen, idealistic and ignorant, I spoke intemperately to a friend of my stepfather's about the CIA. I've never forgotten what an effort it took for him not to hit me.
Forty years on I know better.
This is vile.
6
You have your agencies confused. This is the FBI.
AND his lying was meant to do what?
Undermine Trump.
This man has no shame.
2
It seems that the Republican Party is made up just horrible people. These headlines keep coming out, just despicable things are done and said and we don’t hear a peep from the Republicans in the House, Senate or the National party. Who gets fired at 10 on a Friday night hours before retirement? Don’t any of this mans’s 21 years of service mean anything? And this is supposed to be on behalf of taxpayers so we don’t have to pay for McCabe’ pension. Do Republicans really buy this drivel? McConnell and Ryan - do you have anything to say? This is the US Department of Justice - they just fired an FBI agent for spite after 21 years. Republicans please stand up.
7
Mr. Sessions said McCabe "showed lack of candor under oath". Did the pot just call the kettle black?
3
Can McCabe sue Sessions for unlawful dismissal?
4
Sessions skirted the rules by not showing McCabe the OIJ report or giving him another chance to defend himself. McCabe will get his pension, and Trump will fire whoever gives it to him. However, the public will not believe what McCabe says about Trump. Mission Accomplished by Trumpllandia.
1
These small people in the Trump administration - starting with the very smallest, right at the top, and including his attorney general - diminish themselves further (if possible) every time they take these cruel and vindictive actions. Unfortunately, they diminish the country, too, with their assault on our institutions. With Trump intent on refilling his cabinet with loyalists, sweeping every Republican senator or representative out of office in November is the only way to preserve our checks and balances.
5
This was this was such a cowardly and heinous act by Trump. And then he posted the most vicious taunting tweet shortly after. I was astounded. And THEN I skimmed the comments to his tweet!! Even more amazement. The number of supporting and truly vicious replies is just astounding. Are these truly real people posting such hatred and praising Trump for his appalling action and taunting tweet or are they bots? Does anyone know? Can we truly find out if these twitter poster/commentors are truly real people or if there really are so many ‘real’ people who think that he is so wonderful and who appear to be so filled with hate??
4
They are real people. They voted in 2016. But there are more good people than bad people. The shame is that many good people stayed home in 2016. It cannot happen again in 2018 or 2020.
1
Government affairs through the presidents private lawyer,
Family members hired for top government jobs,
Seems like Trump is more swampy that most any President we've had.
Just sayin'
3
I will never forget the day Mr. Comey so nervously came on the television and stated, in a nutshell, that he had dirt on Hillary. It was like the day President Kennedy was killed. I cannot honestly say that I believed him. I do believe someone got to him.
I and so many others I know, including my neighbors, were appalled. The majority of them believed Mr. Comey and said they were not voting for Trump. I reminded them that if they did not vote it was a vote for Trump.
Now they are sorry. Trump is destroying the USA and he doesn't care. I am near the end of my life and my pockets are not deep. I wanted better for my children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
7
Since "lack of candor" is a charge found in Federal Agencies' rule book.
It's broad and flexible. And to me it seems rather vague.
"Falsification and Lack of Candor are Quite Distinct
The Court explained that falsification and lack of candor are distinct charges. Generally speaking, falsification involves an affirmative misrepresentation and requires intent to deceive. Lack of candor, on the other hand, is a broader and more flexible concept. The Court said that lack of candor need not involve an affirmative misrepresentation; failure to disclose something that, in the circumstances, should have been disclosed may suffice. The Court added that unlike the case with falsification, lack of candor does not require intent to deceive."
https://mspbattorneys.com/blawg/subjective-disciplining-candor/
I imagine Trump and his flunkies looked up the rule book with the question on their minds "what can we get on McCabe? what can we get him for? Aha, look here "lack of candor" it's vague enough and yet serious enough to warrant firing."
A good employee for 21 years and two days before his retirement he is treated like this? It's cruel and utterly disgusting.
7
I'll wait for all the facts to come out (if they ever do) regarding what McCabe did or didn't tell investigators before making a final decision on that. But Jeff Sessions firing anyone for "lack of candor" is a joke. When will he fire himself?
1
The ONLY good thing which may come from his firing is that now perhaps he can be totally candid.
5
I give Trump credit.
Comey helped the Trump campaign by two times giving us the Hillary e-mail investigation while never telling us about the FBI investigation of Trump and Russians during the campaign.
And the leak to the press from McCabe was McCabe pushing to continue the investigation into the Clinton Foundation which would help the Trump campaign.
And then Trump is able to get away with saying they are bad and the reason the Mueller investigation should be shut down.
It is a credit to Trump the conman, the purposeful misinformation of Fox and talk radio, and the ignorance of Trump supporters.
God help us.
MASA - Make America Smart Again
5
McCabe was right. His loyalty SHOULD be to the justice system, and the American People, and not to an individual, even if the individual is President. Especially when the individual is as unfit for office as Trump is.
28
Two questions:
Does a civil servant (GS) lack protection from political animus?
Does the Republican antipathy of unions extend to federal, state, etc. civil servants?
18
I would say McCabe is right on that. We are dealing with a very sick individual in the White House who will do ANYthing to make himself feel better or look better.
You can read about Trump's pathology at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_triad#Dark_tetrad
The Dark Triad has been used for many years; the concept of the tetrad is newer, adding the trait of SADISM to the triad. I think that would Trump to a "T."
This is not a smear or a joke. The man is about as dangerous as they come and this explains why.
17
The coincidence of McCabe's firing and his formal retirement from the FBI is truly amazing!. (a la, Casablanca: Captain Renault: I'm shocked! Shocked to find that gambling is going on in here/[a croupier hands Renault a pile of money]/Croupier: Your winnings, sir./Captain Renault: [sotto voce] Oh, thank you very much.)
The rule of law, once again, has become "road kill".
At the core of the dysfunction of the current administration is the inability of Donald J Trump to separate/understand that all his public (including Twitter) are ex cathedra. It's not the personal opinion of DJT, but POTUS #45 Donald J Trump and official US policy/position.
Anyone, it seems, who doesn't hew the DJT line is considered "out of bounds" and is to be removed. That the goal posts are always moving makes it difficult to stay in bounds and compromising the entire process of effective governance.
That no one--Congress, the GOP in particular--is willing to stand up to this school yard bully and point out the emperor has no clothes, make me sad and distraught.
12
Does anyone doubt these three things? 1) Trump will go nuclear somewhere in the world right before the November elections; 2) Trump will fire Mueller before that; 3) McConnell and Ryan and all the other Republican members of Congress will be too cowardly to protest either action.
12
Trump’s corrupt firing (via “recused” AG Sessions) of Deputy Director of the FBI McCabe will come back to bite Trump: Former federal prosecutor Patrick Cotter said the treatment of McCabe is without real compare. “I would add that for me, and I think many former law enforcement personnel, it is difficult to recall any precedent for the kind of personal vindictiveness the action by the executive exhibits towards a career FBI agent like McCabe, except from the longtime targets of federal law enforcement, like the mob or drug cartels,” Cotter said. “With those criminals I noted that their hate was personal towards the agents and attorneys they thought were building cases against them. This move strikes me as very similar.”
Who could possibly look at the firings of Comey or McCabe as anything but an effort to punish and humiliate a perceived political enemy (both registered Republicans), and to send a message to others who might investigate Trump that they do so at their peril.
This is a problem for a White House occupied by a vengeful chief executive who has little respect for institutional independence, rule of law, or government transparency.
14
This seems appalling that Andrew McCabe could testify truthfully and the FBI IG (who is this person?) could decide that he wasn't being "candid" because he didn't mischaracterize his conversations in the way that the Trump regime demanded.
Remember, Mike Flynn and Jeff Sessions himself testified under oath where they intentionally left out their meetings with people they did not want the FBI to know that they met with. They could have acknowledged that they had all those meetings but they chose not to admit having them at all. That's why Flynn got in trouble.
But - imagine if Flynn and Sessions had readily admitted to their meetings instead of conveniently forgetting about them. Now imagine if they were prosecuted for perjury because Flynn and Sessions "refused to be candid" and admit that the only reason they were having those meetings with Russians was to break the law and subvert democracy in exchange for money. THAT would be an outrageous charge of perjury because once they had admitted the fact of what they did -- meet with Russians -- they were under no obligation to be "candid" and testify that their meetings were to break the law. It would be obvious that being "candid" meant that they must characterize that meeting in the worst possible way.
That is what we are seeing here. Andrew McCabe readily admitted to what he did. But he is being punished for not being "candid" and characterizing it in a false light. Shame on the FBI IG who should be fired himself.
8
Another high level government job available. But only for Republicans who have always supported Trump and have dedicated themselves to serving only his interests. Like the bureaucrats Putin hires to solidify his dictatorship.
12
As a Civil Service employee, Mr. McCabe must have protections built into the law...such as due process. He was not afforded a chance to discuss the I.G.'s report or challenge it in a hearing prior to being fired. I expect that his firing may be delayed for months to come while the lawyers fight over the procedure.
8
No coincidence that the firing of McCabe was at 10 pm Friday evening a day and half before McCabe's retirement when his pension and healthcare benefits would come into effect. This is politically motivated and indefensible, appears to be a retaliation and intended to impair McCabe's credibility for his testimony in the Mueller investigation.
For Dowd, the president's attorney this morning to say that the Mueller investigation should end and refer to McCabe's firing implies obstruction. The Inspector General's report should be released to see why McCabe is being fired and McCabe should have had the opportunity to defend himself. It seems like he is being targeted by the president who put enormous pressure on Sessions to fire him.
9
We can never underestimate just how low Trump will go to protect himself.
9
We are witnessing the transformation of DT to DT Putin, an ominous sign and challenge to our democracy.
What is happening to the checks and balances the founding fathers built into the Constitution? Every Administration has tried, forcefully or feebly, to test the limits of its power, the sort of activity that keeps the other two branches of government distracted and off course.
Obstruction of justice by the Executive is one of the most egregious of crimes, among many others, that the US President can commit. Yet DT is fearlessly committing it and using denial to cover up his misdeeds -- all in broad daylight.
Nixon had to resign for obstructing justice. DT is following in his steps. Predictably, the consequence is unlikely to be different. A national nightmare is in the making. Yet. like the Titanic, DT is cruising in that direction.
Nixon did not have access to Twitter to instantly unleash a flood of disinformation to his loyalists. DT is fortunate. He has it, and uses it, with maximum effect, to misguide the public, or at least his loyal flock.
6
Only Congress should be able to dismiss people from certain critical roles in Government to prevent abuse of Presidential power.
6
How ironic that “I can’t recall” Sessions who was not forthcoming in his testimony before Congress and who has yet to be censured can easily fire someone who is alleged to have candor questions. Moral compass has absolutely been turned upside down. Where’s has the blindfolded Lady been all this time?
6
This is the same man who drafted a memo:" Memorandum For All Federal Prosecutors" (May 10, 2017) Wherein he demanded they apply the harshest charges and "mandatory minimums" turning back President Obama's efforts; going back in time to the Clinton/Bush era Sentencing schemes.
The same man who rolled back disability rights in the workplace.
The same man who seeks to stay in the good graces of a tyrant- by wielding his legal sword at any and everyone Trump deems his 'enemy'.
The same man who talks about his "Christianity" but would place Christ in an ICE detention camp- never recognizing who he was: The same man for whom- perversion of the truth is his modus operandi.
3
Where is the outrage at this unprecedented attack, not only on McCabe, but on the very foundation of our democracy?
I woke up this morning expecting an avalanche of criticism from the press and the American public: Nothing! Just an ordinary day in the dystopian world of the madman, Donald Trump!
I guess I should be so optimistic. After all the Russians, with the acquiescence of the Trump administration, are undermining our electoral process, children are being slaughtered in our schools and a large group of "Americans", too large, go merrily on their way, as long as an "in God we trust" motto is sacrosanct, abortion is prohibited and guns are readily available.
What kind of a sick society are we living in?????
7
I am confused by so many of the comments; they all seem to have all the facts and are emphatic in their beliefs. Strange.
2
He served for 20 years and president couldn’t give him 2 days so he could retire? So Petty.
5
Sessions commits obstruction for Trump to keep his job? How does that not violate his recusal? Now he's deeper down that conspiracy, and we get to watch both of them answer to justice in a thrilling compensation suit.
This one was pretty tasty. The fired bloke said he was told he could keep his job if he kept his mouth shut about all the other hacks working for Murdoch.
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-14541848
2
The corruption at the head of the FBI has been going on for a long time. Unfair to American taxpayers who fund it and trust it to protect the country's interests. And especially demoralizing to the hard-working rank and file of the FBI.
There was so much partisanship, corruption and shady dealings with McCabe, Comey, and Page/Strzok. So please stop waving fingers in a hysterical fashion and shouting Trump, Trump, Trump...
McCabe was referenced many times in the texts revealed between Page/Strzok ("as discussed in Andy's office"...etc). And he absolutely should not have been at the head of the Clinton email probe when his wife had 700k funneled into her campaign by a Clinton cronie. For once, let's collectively forget about partisanship, pull our heads out of the sand and use some common sense.
This man abused his power. So did Comey. When we he be held accountable.
P.S. I feel Clinton, Trump and Obama and anyone in their administrations should also be accountable for any misdeeds. But let's focus on the FBI and clean house at the top. America deserves better.
2
We are witnessing the transformation of DT to DT Putin, an ominous sign and challenge to our democracy.
What is happening to the checks and balances the founding fathers built into the Constitution? Every Administration has tried, forcefully or feebly, to test the limits of its power, the sort of activity that keeps the other two branches of government distracted and off course.
Obstruction of justice by the Executive is one of the most egregious of crimes, among many others, that the US President can commit. Yet DT is fearlessly committing it and using denial to cover up his misdeeds -- all in broad daylight.
Nixon had to resign for obstructing justice. DT is following in his steps. Predictably, the consequence is unlikely to be different. A national nightmare is in the making. Yet, like the Titanic, DT is cruising in that direction.
Nixon did not have access to Twitter to instantly unleash a flood of disinformation to his loyalists. DT is fortunate. He has it, and uses it, with maximum effect, to misguide the public, or at least his loyal flock.
Never forget: Trump is a REPUBLICAN president. Far from an abberation, he is the apotheosis of everything REPUBLICAN: dishonesty, vindictiveness, vulgarity, hypocrisy, racism, bigotry, mysogony, xenophobia, contempt for the law, contempt for fellow human beings. These are the values the REPUBLICAN Party has had for more than 50 years. Getting rid of Trump is important for sure; ridding ourselves of the Republican Criminsl Organizstion, in its corrupt entirety, is what is really essential to saving what's left of our democracy.
2
No one on FOX news will mention that his “leak” to the WSJ was meant to CORRECT news reports that he had been prejudiced in favor of the Clintons. Instead, what he wanted the public to know was that he had insisted on his right and authority to continue investigating them.
2
Great point.
Trump is a malicious sadist. He enjoys toying with people, torturing them, psychologically eviscerating them. In the process he is torturing this nation, eviscerating the Constitution right before our eyes.
How long can we endure a chief executive, whose administration a far right lawyer describes as engaging in “malignant deviancy”?
https://lawfareblog.com/trump-malignancy-and-book-will-not-be-written
Will our nation ever recover? This worries me greatly.
4
Why would he need to be fired on a Friday when he is retiring on Sunday? What is the gain other than discrediting him?
5
This is what happens when Americans are duped into electing one of our worst citizens -- ignorant, petty, and dishonest to the core -- to the White House. That congressional Republicans still countenance an administration that is equal parts inept and criminal is shocking and profoundly unpatriotic.
4
The firing of Andrew McCabe is very puzzling. Obviously this is Trump trying to punish a very well respected FBI agent. But why? Trump is afraid of what McCabe will say to Mueller so why go out of your way to enrage McCabe? Maybe Trump is more stupid than we thought.
2
There are reports McCabe kept notes on all interactions with Trump. When will Trump learn firing people won’t shut them up. McCabe, Comey, and other rank and file FBI members have dealt with scarier dudes than Don-Boy.
Sessions claims McCabe was fired for lack of candor under questioning, the same Sessions who demonstrated actual lack of candor and dissembling during his confirmation hearings.
3
If Andrew McCabe has memos from Trump that show obstruction of justice he could choose to use them as a bargaining chip to reinstate his pension. He is probably too principled to do that but that might get Trump's attention. If not, there are publishers who are waiting to read these missives. Comey's memoir is coming out in the fall I wonder what else we will learn. Did Comey loose his pension too?
5
I think McCabe is an honest man-but driven by a vision- a vision he believes in-but unfortunately a vision which is not consistent with an "impartial" FBI. Justice Louis D. Brandeis wrote 50 years ago: "Experience should teach us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the government's purposes are beneficient . . . The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well meaning, but without understanding.
2
Pensions funds have their own set of rules that apply to all members equally. They are not bargaining tools that can be used as leverage with third-parties.
1
FBI memos are classified information. No doubt, Mueller will explore all communication (written and oral) between and among Trump, Comey and McCabe. Comey had only worked for 4 years as FBI director, not enough for a pension. He was fired and would not get severance.
Shame on Jeff Sessions and the Trump Administration.
A new low, even for them.
McCabe is an honorable man.
23
This is why McCabe was deservedly fired and why there should be a Grand Jury Investigation
of ex-Director Comey and his seventh floor henchmen:
The FBI and DOJ employed unverified salacious allegations contained in a political opposition research document to obtain court-sanctioned wiretaps, and then leaked the contents of the wiretaps and the identities of the political opponents.
A pall hangs over Mueller and a pall hangs over the DOJ. But the darkest pall hangs over the FBI. It spans from ex Director Comey to now ex Deputy Director McCabe to General Counsel Baker. It spread to counterintelligence via Peter Strzok.
When line agents complained about the misconduct, McCabe retaliated by placing them under investigation for leaking information.
It is not "Trump's FBI scorn" but the scorn of the many citizens who are calling for a Grand Jury Probe, long overdue, of the entire matter.
1
My takeaway from this firing is that trump will take any action, however small, as long as it can harm at least one human being. Pettiness is just a plus for him.
27
For some reason this one hurts more than the usual Trump outrages. That a man who, over decades, rose to the pinnacle of the FBI has his career and pension revoked within hours of retirement by THIS BUNCH of lackeys, hypocrites and serial liars is beyond depressing and angering. Republicans, where's your law, order and sense of fairness and decency now? crickets
24
Clearly despicable, cowardly, and vindictive behavior for Trump and Sessions. Can't we please have an emergency presidential election in November 2018?
15
“It is well documented that he has had some very troubling behavior and by most accounts a bad actor,” said the White House press secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
It's well-documented by who? Whose accounts constitute "most accounts"? This is a profoundly sleazy way to try to destroy someone's character. A "bad actor" she says? Does Sarah think this is a TV show? With Sarah "acting" as though she's telling the truth.
Then we get another lovely tweet from our great leader. "Sanctimonious James Comey was his boss and made McCabe look like a choirboy. He knew all about the lies and corruption going on at the highest levels of the FBI!
This from a guy who's supposed to be president? This stupid Tweet stuff is reducing our political intelligence to zero.
21
The abject cruelty of Donald Trump is breathtaking.
I've been in a constant state of despair since November 2016....it just keeps getting worse.
Abject.cruelty.
NOT my president
31
Trump fires Mcabe for lack of candor and on the very same day sues Stormy Daniels for her candor. Hypocrisy thy name is Trump.
19
WAKE UP AMERICA! The vital foundation of our nation's democracy continues to be intensively threatened by Donald Trump. His ongoing consistent rantings and vile and evil behavior clearly indicate that he has no interest in serving the American people. He is serving himself, his greed and his insatiable need for power. I am spending sleepless nights because it is becoming painfully obvious that Trump is Putin's puppet. Putin is manipulating Trump to destroy this nation from within. The firing of Mr. McCabe is disgusting, disrespectful, vengeful and frankly a terrorist act. Mr. Trump keeps ranting about "FAKE NEWS". D. Trump is the embodiment of "FAKE NEWS" and TREASON. WE THE PEOPLE have accepted and tolerated way to much of Trumptopia's despicable words, behavior and actions. The RED LINE for a MAJORITY of American People has been crossed. It is time to stop the insanity and intolerable greed that is destroying this country. Trump, Pence, McConnell and Ryan ALL HAVE TO GO and so does EVERY Senator and Congressional Representative, who does not rise up THIS WEEK and vehemently protest and speak out about this horrific assault on our nation. I never thought this country would be destroyed during my lifetime but make no mistake about it... the freedoms this country has valued are being destroyed in real time. I for one have absolutely had it. Yes, we need to VOTE but it is time to take to the streets. TRUMP = TREASON.
20
I would love for Republican readers of the NYT (if any), to weigh in. In this context, what possible other reason could your President have for firing a public servant (who has served faithfully for 21 years) just ONE DAY before his retirement – other than that of spite? Surely you see something the rest of us (and the world at large) don’t.
If not, what keeps you by Trump’s side? What qualities do you possibly see that could outweigh this latest display of un-leadership-like quality? I have tried for ages to understand and empathise (with) the rationale of Trump’s supporters, and every latest antic keeps me guessing.
10
This the definitive moment, when democracy and the balance of powers breaks in the United States and the authoritarian regime is allowed. Don't think that the employees of the justice department, FBI, CIA are not concerned and intimidated. This is flagrant abuse of power. Joe Arpaio, in clear violation of the law, gets a pardon. A felon discussed on phony FOX gets a pardon. But an honest civil servant is purposely fired 26 hours before retiring because he did not kowtow to a fraudulently elected "President". The more power we allow Trump, the more power he will grap, and his brazen violations will become ever more brazen and illegal and destructive to our people, our government, our culture, and our souls. As a country, we would have been better off sticking with King George, and never having an American Revolution. We are facing utter chaos, which was exactly Putin's plan, until his recruits and operatives drop the pretense, walk right in, and let us know that we now belong to them.
11
I find this event ironic beyond words. McCabe is fired hours before retirement by a man who had to recuse himself from the very investigation that McCabe is privy to because Sessions had lied under oath during his confirmation hearing. The move is cheered on by POTUS, the most flagrant liar in history. How much more of this authoritarian, dictatorial behavior do Americans have to put up with? Get out and vote America! Stop this craziness before it is too late.
19
This is nothing short of a political homicide of a Federal employee. Cowardly, venomous, and so far beyond mean-spirited it by-passes Mars. Mr. McCabe was a dedicated FBI agent who moved up the ranks and this is the thanks of a safe and grateful nation? To have Trump egg the OIG on and fire someone on a Friday night at 10:00 p.m., less than 36 hours before he was to retire with his pension is so reprehensible it makes me nauseous. Mr. McCabe deserves his pension, and the thanks of the US.
14
What better way for Trump to send the message that "If you cross me, you'll pay for it." On the eve McCabe's retirement, no less!
Of course, he'll get his full benefits in the end, but the message is clear.
1
If he quibbled, was not forthright, or was too cute with his answers to the IG, he failed to support the FBI’s core values, and as a very senior leader, stained the FBI. Heck, it even appears Director Wray looked at the evidence being evaluated and advised him to sprint for the retirement window. I’m reasonably confident his administrative appeal process in the merit system protections will restore his pension...but it will take years and cost a lot. And the political forces will have sent their message to the senior civil service corps.
Is it fair? I suspect the pubic holds the FBI to higher standards or expectations than politicians. I do.
As for Comey, Obama should have fired him over inserting himself in a presidential campaign with his administrative trash talking about Clinton. But Comey, a political appointee, and Obama were both political types, and our expectations were lower.
3
McCabe deserves to be treated the same way other Justice Department employees have been treated when a complaint has been lodged against them. He deserved to have a hearing and present his rebuttal prior to being fired. I expect Civil Service rules were broken and we are about to find that out.
2
There is no more "senior leader" than the President of the United States and the Attorney General of the United States. Both of whom weren't just "too cute" but outright lied under oath.
Telling the truth about the facts and refusing to mischaracterize your actions in the way that a prosecutor wants you to is not "quibbling". It is not being "too cute". It is telling the truth.
However, Sessions and whoever this Inspector General is -- was it one of the boys who broke the law when they were leaking to Giuliani? -- should be investigated for this attempt to smear someone who spent 21 years working for justice. Shameful.
3
You mean the way we expect truth from the President?
1
Well, it's official! This firing combined with the White House calling for the end of the Mueller investigation officially shows Trump's intention to become President For Life. All hail Our Great Leader.
2
In my opinion, Andrew McCabe is simply another victim of Donald Trump's vindictiveness. Another hapless fly caught in this narcissistic (a disorder; not an insult) president's flytrap.
Mr. Trump shows all the symptoms of clinical narcissism. Narcissists are blindly driven by two self-centered things. Self aggrandizement. Self preservation.
Also, this president is incapable off empathy. Thus he simply can't see Andrew McCabe through the same empathetic lens as most of us. That's because his lens is bereft of compassion and monumentally distorted. What he sees instead is someone in McCade, as well as, the Justice Department and (even our trading partners) are people conspiring against him, out to put something over on him. Do him harm. Take advantage of him.
Thus he reacts. Lashes out. Demeans, maligns, destroys. (Sets up tariffs) And worse feels justified in his vindictiveness, like stripping McCabe of his retirement.
However, sometime, like now, people pop up who resist and fight back, like McCabe, the Muller investigation, and even a woman named Stormy. Who due to their dogged perseverance may eventually cause the protective walls of distortion/chaos/insanity to come tumbling down. To stop our slow motion constitutional crisis, let's hope so.
4
The Art of the Deal - threaten to fire someone if they won't fire someone you want fired.
5
I suppose when you're a billionaire like Trump it's impossible to empathize with average working Americans who depend on their retirement. Yet, to hear him rejoice in the loss of a person's pension is just evil.
9
“The real damage is being done to our public institutions and the confidence citizens once had in them. Trump and his s weasels are taking us down day by day, Ryan, McConnell are in on it. That a clown like Sessions leads our Justice department displaying a lack of candor at every turn makes fair minded people sick. If you like silver linings Sessions probably just instigated one of the largest mass migrations out of the Republican party ever.
6
We are right to be afraid. Our democracy is far more fragile than anyone realized. Institutions that rely primarily on public officials having integrity are doomed to fail as soon as thugs like Trump and his mob in the Republican party take over.
It would not surprise me in the least that if Trump's dictatorship is actually threatened that he would declare a police state immediately and suspend all constitutional rights.
Probably not necessary since they have already packed the judiciary with like-minded fascists, and the congress has been co-opted completely. The dismantling of the FBI is just another brick in the wall.
4
So Sessions says McCabe lacked candor? Does he know I many times he said he "didn't recall" or denied meetings with Russians? The entire gaggle of Trumpies are just so hypocritical as to be laughable.
9
I hope Mr. McCabe gets his full pension and retains his health insurance. Twenty plus some years of honorable service in Government Service and fired on the eve of his retirement on orders from the crooked, immoral, lying Trump is just mean-spirited cruelty! We are already living under Putin tactics. I hope Trump enablers in Congress, especially Ryan and McConnell, stop putting party over country soon because our Democracy is at stake. Mr. Mueller and his staff are doing a great service to our country. We must not let the despicable Trump and his enablers prevail in the end.
8
They have to take the loyalty oath to trump and against the constitution if they want to stay on Agent Orange's good side. He is an unfit self-serving creep that is working hard against America and we the people. The gross party of trump will go down in history as traitors.
4
To fire a life long civil servant two days before he would be eligible for retirement on transparently partisan grounds. How despicable.
7
Sessions fired McCabe trying to dodge Trump's wrath -- he'll find only a VERY brief reprieve...
1
IF the firing was designed to undermine Mueller, then the FBI, The DOJ and the independent Inspector General (who is a DEMOCRAT) have to be part of that conspiracy as they recommended this action. Another way of looking at this is- the firing probably does impact the Mueller probe. If the Mueller probe is neutral-is it nonetheless your point is that the ONLY fair result will be charging Trump? If the result is to convince Mueller that the charges were fabricated and that he can not rely on MCCabe-then why is that is not a just and proper result-I am sure Mueller is a decent honest man who will not think this is an adverse result so long as it is honest- and I would think that the FBI and DOJ do not care who win so long as the process is just. So to say MCCabe's firing undermines Mueller-is another way of saying that Mueller is undermined by anything that helps Trump (and that paints Mueller as bent on accusing Trump no matter what)- - and while it helps Trump- it probably does-what is wrong with that?- A impartial person is not undermined by ANY decision he makes unless he has an interest in a particular result- If McCabe thinks his firing helps Trump-then perhaps it should!
2
You overlooked something important---by this action, Donald Trump was intending to impugn Mr. McCabe's character and veracity as a witness against him should Mr. Mueller deliver an indictment.
2
Don’t get mad. Get even. I hope he runs for office and absolutely takes it to the Trump Regime even as a Republican. Trump killed the GOP. There is nothing Grand about the Republican Party. They’ve been Trumped. Gross Old Party still works.
5
To fire a life long civil servant two years before he would be eligible for retirement on transparently partisan grounds. How despicable.
1
The cruel vindictiveness of Trump is staggering. To say he is evil is an understatement and his cow-towed minions are complicit in the step-by-step destruction of our country. McCabe is just the latest target of these ongoing purges of those who protect our country (and bring criminals and traitors to justice) -- remind you of any other fascists? In the meantime, McConnell and Ryan are the "see nothing" "hear nothing" "do nothing" partners who need to be removed from their offices. They have put Trump before the best interest of the country.
5
I really, really hope that we ALL can say that "It's a great day for democracy" when Trump is fired. Please, Mr. Mueller, hurry, hurry. Let's get rid of these yahoos once and for all.
A truly disgusting lot of people.
8
I wonder if the founding fathers really thought out the implications of our current situation where the Senate and the House and the White House are all controlled by the same party. There really are no checks and balances if they are all complicit in the same crime.
3
When Trump fires Muller all of America's trading partners should put a 25 per cent tax on all goods and services originating in the U.S.
1
What kind of person celebrates firing someone? What kind of person celebrates ruining a persons financial status? What kind of a person celebrates ruining a persons career? A bully. Our Bully President Trump. A very sad day for all citizens of USA.
9
There is no slight too small for this bunch. The amount of negativity, pettiness, humiliation and ruthless aggression is truly disturbing. Do we really want the Wicked Witch of the East in the white house? Is this what Trump voters wanted? Another day, more destruction, lawyers, twitter rages, and swamp attacks....so much winning I can't take it!
6
McCabe may well win a wrongful dismissal suit and help bring down a corrupt and disgraceful president. Now, that would be public service.
8
Firing McCabe 2 days before he retires? Smells like a completely political move by Trump and his toady Sessions to discredit him as a potential witness in the Mueller Investigation. That is, if the Mueller Investigation isn’t shut down by the person it’s investigating. As The Wicked Witch said, “ What a world, what a world!”
2
They certainly dragged this out until the final hour. I assume that Mueller will now add the firing of McCabe to his list of inquiries. It is also curious that the execution was performed by Sessions - ignoring his recusal pledge - and not by Wray or Rosenstein, both of whom are silent today. It should require about 10% of Mueller's brain power to sort through this clumsy escapade, aided by Trump's tweets. (News flash: Mueller has McCabe's notes already) The transparent orchestration of public pressure brought upon McCabe, Sessions and now Rosenstein by Dowd and numerous collaborating surrogates is certainly collusion with a nefarious objective. Trump may be right for once that this is "A great day for Democracy" since it adds to the long list of conduct that could end this reality TV travesty. Why would anyone of integrity (important qualifier) in the West Wing want to be associated wth this train wreck?
98
It is not coincidental that McCabe was fired just days away from retiring. His termination was hateful and vindictive.
7
...and very deserving!
If McCabe politicized his job at all it was to benefit Trump when he allowed agents to criticize Clinton.
1
Like Comey, another Republican affiliated Professional has been thrown out by the betrayals, machinations and hypocrisy of the Republicans in Congress who will do ANYTHING to protect their more than flawed President...no matter what he is, has done and continues to do against his Nation, People and Party :anyone and anything that gets in the way of his selfish interests, wellbeing, status and ego.
There is no love lost or any Loyalty at all in regards to Republicans that increasingly, are showing how much, how many and whoever they are willing to hurt, destroy or ruin if it is against their agenda, to save their skin or protect their interests, as they do whatever it takes...regardless of the damage they cause or the people they hurt in the doing.
Because the money, power and influence they crave more than all else is their only and their ALL.
There is almost Nothing to them or within them other than these desires and motivations that reveal exactly what they have and what lies within.
Nothing.
They are People with and of no Substance whatsoever and who will leave a legacy of Nothing as their positive and things so much worse as their negative when they finally leave their mark, that will be seen or revealed as the Scars they are, deep, raw and almost always unforgiving.
2
The vindictiveness of this liars club administration and the lawlessness they rule with is breathtakingly shameless. Shame on spineless Republicans and Congress. We must survive to fix this nightmare.
7
Andrew McCabe should start a Go Fund Me page for his retirement.
We must stop this President anyway we can from supporting tactics that every day move us further away from a democracy with respect and compassion for all people regardless of their economic stature and differing opinions and beliefs. If its not good for Donald then it must not be right for this country. How did we let ourselves get here?
1
Trump ethics in action!
Welcome to the way the private sector operates! Motivated instead by greed, thousands of workers are "let go" as they approach eligibility to full retirement benefits.
Any older unemployed Trump voters out there perplexed by Trump's actions?
Hopefully you can figure out you've been duped to support Trump. Remember McCabe. Trump and your company do not care a rodent's whisker for you.
If you feel like voting this fall, remember this Trump quote, "I don't need your vote anymore!"
3
You might not have noticed but since Trump took office the number of workers seeking unemployment insurance is the lowest in 50 years. Also, you are a bit confused about how the private sector works, they do not fire people who are about to retire, they offer them economic incentives to retirement early. Also, if any employee had behaved as badly as Andrew McCabe had, they would have been fire for cause as he was by Attorney general Jeff Sessions. He lied, he leaked information about an investigation and he put his partisan interest ahead of the interests justice or due process. He most definitely deserved to be fired.
I hope Mr. McCabe uses all of Trump’s tweets targeting him, including the most recent one in which he gloats about this unjust, cruel and vindictive termination, as further evidence of obstruction of justice. Just when one thinks that this ghoulish imposter of a so-called president has plumbed the depths of venality and vulgarity, he slithers yet lower into the muck and mire. To paraphrase former CIA head Brennan, General McCaffery and others, let this shabby excuse for a human being, let alone a leader, be rendered unto the dustbin of history as the disgraced demagogue that he his. And, in the spirit of James Comey, Lordy, I hope there are tapes!
4
"His firing had been recommended by veteran disciplinary officials. "
This firing was based on recommendations by multiple FBI and DOJ veterans who carefully reviewed the case.
Don't be mad at Sessions. Don't be mad at President Trump.
Be mad at McCabe, whose firing was apparently very well deserved.
2
No, John. Nobody has seen the reasons for McCabe's dismissal. Nobody has seen McCabe's hearing to discuss those claims. The man has a right under Civil Service rules to meet his accusers and offer a rebuttal. That has NOT been done.
And, even if it turns out McCabe should be fired, it was still petty and vindictive of Trump to step in and try to destroy the man's pension. A man of character would have just let the time run out. You know---that old "Do Unto Others" thingy we hear so much about.
3
No doubt Trump let it it be known that McCabe be fired or the Attorney General and/or the Inspector General would be fired.
2
One can well imagine that Sessions had little choice here: do the dirty deed for El Presidente and drop the hammer on McCabe before close of business on Friday; or pick up your pink slip, drop off your keys and empty your desk before leaving the building for the last time.
Sessions still likes being Attorney General of the United States too much to let ethics stand in the way of his continued tenure. He made that mistake once when he properly recused himself from investigating the Trump campaign of which he was an integral part - and has been the Tweeter-in-Chief's favorite human doormat/pinata ever since.
I doubt Sessions will make that mistake a second time.
5
The so-called president, so devoid of all sense of right and wrong, decency, respect and lacking in leadership skills, can dish up only cruelty to those he has power over.
That he MUST go is not in question. Anyone with human qualities sees that.
But it also seems appropriate to voice hope that the Democrats, verging on purity requirements and party oaths will take note.
3
McCabe’s firing is evidence of Trump using strong arm tactics to purge people who are threat to his power based on lies and subterfuge. He is using flimsiest of excuses to do so. Coming after firing of Preet Bhahara, James Comey and now McCabe, I have a simple question for Paula Ryan, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. What would you tell your children and grandchildren when they ask you what were you doing when Trump’s dictatorship and strongman tactics were systematically strangling the US democracy with impunity. Would you say you did not know what was happening, you had no power do anything about it, you simply did not care or you willingly let it go because you were pursing some other goals that were more important than the democratic system in the US?
3
He got fired for very good reasons and that should not stop him from testifying. Sour grapes from a very partisan official.
1
Really Raul? When did McCabe have his termination hearing? When did he have the chance to address the charges against him? When was the due process carried out? As a Civil Service employee, he deserves all of those things.
You don't know if he was "a very partisan official" or not. Nobody does until the reasons are given the light of day.
5
Trump is not highly partisan? McCabe has been a life-long Republican.
2
Pat,
“There's no statutory basis to go to court,” said Tom Devine of the Government Accountability Project of McCabe's recourse to protest his firing.
Please all of you women who are currently serving in government: stand up for this public servant.
I know you have to have extreme courage to be one of the relatively few women in government. That you face all kinds of power and control issues. I know it's very stressful, and you have to repeat yourself over and over and the leadership doesn't / pretends not to get it. I know that you get berated and called names. (That's abusive, by the way.)
But please don't let this issue go. Looking the other way on this issue is how some women end up feeling stuck married to a serial cheater, it only gets worse and worse. It must be nipped in the bud. Otherwise, it's sending the message to "all of you little people that think you're going to be a hero and speak the truth, well? Then just get ready to pay the price!"
Make sure that McCabe gets his retirement, and an honorable going-away celebration of his career. That is the fair thing to do, to him, his wife, and sends the signal to career public servants that we (elected officials) will not let you be mistreated.
1
"What goes around, comes around." So soon Sessions and Trump will get theirs.
2
Hasty firing and discrediting of a key witness to an investigation of Russia. Sudden (though long expected) firing of a cabinet member just days after he officially spoke ill of Russia. Supposedly impending firing of a key advisor who just days ago officially spoke ill of Russia. Hmmmmm... all just coincidence I'm sure.
If Trump is innocent, he's sure acting guiltily.
As an aside, McCabe brought a lot of this on himself, regardless whether he failed the "candor" test. Having a wife significantly involved in Democratic
politics in a state where the Democratic governor is a Clinton chum should have meant recusal all along. Dumb. But maybe a useful trigger point for this country to rise up against crazy, erratic crypto-autocracy.
Fox News and the Republicans, along with the religious fundamentalists, have done such damage to our country and our democracy. I don’t think we will recover in my lifetime. I’m 57.
6
Another day, another news story about the Trump administration that makes me feel disgusted and demoralized. Not only the firing of McCabe, but the despicable Orwellian tweet about "great day for democracy."
Obama had the intelligence and moral character that a leader of this country should have.
Trump just makes me feel sick. That one-third of our country still approves of Trump is simply unbelievable to me. The words I am using don't reflect the magnitude of my disgust and despair.
10
I suggest, and would financially support, a defamation suit by Mr. McCabe against Trump ( I know ), Sessions, Sanders and any others now maligning him. I believe he will be shown to have been an honest and principled leader of the FBI.
2
"And then a DJ wearing a blazer with a badge ran on and said, 'Here we go!'"
I hope Sally doesn't get hurt when they make a run for the alley. This deaf and dumb luck shtick aren't cutting it from the sound of these critics.
I must laugh owing to Michael Wood sharing that anyone living during Athelred's reign might find comfort in Nixon's. Poorly counseled, Athelred was, or was he not listening?
I never thought the 1970s would be worthy of this rerun, but here we are again, Arthur.
1
I wonder if, once he has been impeached, trump will lose any part of his presidential pension. I would guess not.
3
1.Trump hasn't earned a pension
2. Trump doesn't need a pension
1
It's hard to see this and to read Trump's tweets today and not think that we're witnessing the end of the American republic. Whatever McCabe's faults, they pale next to the criminal enterprise the Trump administration has become with the encouragement of the plutocrat class and its employees in Congress. These are not the actions of representative government, but of a mob family bent on domination.
9
Could not agree more... you nailed it with the description of a mob family who is in this for pure financial gain.
1
Jeff Sessions lies before Congress and he's the one who gets to decide if McCabe is fired? Trump is getting nervous where the Mueller investigation is headed and will probably go for Rosenstein next. The Republicans talk a good game that certain actions would cross the line, but what ultimately will they do to push back against Trump? We will be in uncharted territory with Trump.
CNN is reporting McCabe has memos of conversations he had with Trump, so this might ultimately come back to harm Trump once again.
2
Indeed it’s intent as stated is to devalue his testimony. Transparent obstruction of justice period. His background is perfect. His wife’s politics, aspiration and any donation was disclosed in the appropriate way long ago to ethics review to insure no conflicts or missed clarity. Bogus attacks on him simply show his inner strength and integrity unlike Trump and his infantile out of control rants calculably intended to maim opponents. The GOP is complicit in his efforts. Bob Mueller and team know what they see. Wealthy Republicans and Democrats all benefit from the Trump tax cut and revelry it was further revealed that a certain loophole is a huge bonus to many. I hope the money flow doesn’t taint the resistance to this mad President. It’s a bribe in a way.
No accident in the impact of that cut. It intends by design to lessen resistance via the benefit all the wealthy would hate to lose. Calculable.
1
The " deep state" is in Mr. Trump's shallow mind , that only has how to make crooked deals and more money for him and his issue. His war on the intelligence agencies is being waged because he wants to use them for his own purposes to carry out vendettas against those who disagree and stand up to him. His goal to totally corrupt our Constitution which the founding fathers wisely saw how giving too much power to one person would undermine the purpose of setting up their new nation. Trump rails , tweets weak falsehoods against Mr. McCabe , in this case the bad actors are Trump , his toady Sessions and that vulpine mouthpiece which daily holds press conferences spouting vile untruths. Thank you Mr. McCabe for being unshakeable in your stand . Perhaps it will be the teenagers , Stormy Daniels , who will finally have some effect on the lethargic minds in this country and bring sanity and reason and show this man in the true light of day .
4
If lying while under oath is a fireable offense, then when are we getting rid of Jeff Sessions? "I do declare - I don't recall meeting Ambassador Kislyak." A weak, cowardly Attorney General carrying out a hit on a career civil servant in order to score points with Trump. Depriving McCabe of his pension 3 days before his retirement takes effect - DISGUSTING.
5
Firing a man hours before he could draw his pension is the sort of behavior my grandmother called meanness. Once again, this president holds up a mirror to vast swaths of the American people who put him there, and the reflection shows a vindictive, paranoid and most of all, abject naivete about what's happening right before their eyes. With the walls quickly closing in, Donald Trump is shoring up the walls around him with pure loyalists, scurrilous individuals who will go to almost any lengths to make certain nothing threatens this presidency. They are masters at their misleading and manipulative narratives. Sadly, far to many voters don't see this sort of behavior for what it is, shady.
1
As a retired federal LEA I agree you can never lie under oath, however since this did not happen directly in a criminal case this seems like a very harsh punishment. That that professional investigators that are presumably independent recommended the punishment is very significant. A careful look at the IG report is needed before accurately assessing this action. Trump's prejudicial tweeting may give Mr. McCabe a better chance of eventually overturning this decision in court. I think he has to appeal to OPM first. I hope he can afford a good lawyer. I would love to see Sessions and Trump testify under oath on this decision. They may think this hurts Mueller on potential obstruction of justice charges, but I don't think it hurts him at all and in fact it may bolster the case for those type of charges.
Trump behaves more and more like the Frank Underwood in 'House of Cards.' It's unsettling to watch those presidential machinations on the little screen, but downright frightening to watch it happen in real time. The satisfying part about that TV drama? The viewer finds out where all the bodies are buried and karma is swift. Hopefully, that will happen for Trump and his pathetic lackeys sooner rather than later.
I hope Andrew McCabe sues the government for his pension and wins big.
1
Trump is trying to put out so many fires at once, he has gone insane. Now he has made an enemy of McCabe. There will be nothing to stop him from telling everything he knows. I hope that he does it soon.
2
Hopefully McCabe has some sort of recourse. This is wrong! I'm starting to feel like we need to form a march on Washington to support our law enforcement agencies. No one worth having will want to join the FBI, CIA, Homeland Security, etc.
1
Trump seems to think that if he can get rid of enough people, the investigation will just go away. What he’s forgetting is, he is dealing with more intelligent people, professionals who know how to conduct their business as well as know the importance of detailed record keeping, and who have a basic respect for the law and this country.
There are times when I think I’m watching a surreal version of “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” The truth, sir, is not always what YOU say it is.
Be it through Robert Mueller or Stormy Daniels, whatever it takes to bring this sad travesty to an end I support.
3
The Trump Administration just enriched Andrew McCabe. His book will net him far more income, in light of these actions, than his pension.
1
What about due process for McCabe? This certainly deserves to be decided in a court of law.
1
Donald Trump, terminally clueless, has declared war on the FBI, the intelligence community, the media, the judiciary, his wives, lovers and every person he hosed in business dealings. His presidency will someday come to an end and he will find himself a bloated target whose tweets are ignored and whose fate will be determined by those whose lives he tried to ruin whose nation he tried to destroy, and whose Constitution he tried to erase. The fervent hope is that until that day comes, the American people can vote in November to end this reign of error before it morphs into a rain of terror.
2
"Lack of candor" is such a nebulous accusation to begin with. The right wing commits this on a regular basis with its one sided propaganda. Trump does it in spades. Not only is this a double standard, it is that republicans have no standards.
3
McCabe knows a lot, and he has contemporaneous notes. Hopefully he has already shared everything with Mueller. I would bet a book deal will cover his lost pension. Let it fly, Andy.
2
Liberals- We need to play it straight on this. We can’t simply be upset because the decision came from Jeff Sessions.
The decision is harsh no question, but if career DOJ officials recommended it, that says a lot. Important to remember that no one is above the law.
2
They claim career DOJ officials recommended it. The timing is suspect.
I’m sorry but to play it straight conflicts with my close-minded biased opinion that Trump is evil. So, no. I will make up my own facts and blither away with nonsensical verbal vomit because it makes me feel better.
This is another nail in the coffin of trump and sessions and likely others, too. Obstruction, witness tampering. I believe McCabe will eventually get his full pension, plus recovery for civil damages.
3
This is political retribution against a career law enforcement officer whom Trump and Sessions have defamed and deprived of the pension he earned putting his life on the line. For shame.
2
Donald Trump is dissolving our democracy before our eyes and the Congress is watching him do it.
Of course he fired Mr. McCabe hours before his retirement - come on - we all knew he was going to do it. He thinks this makes him a "powerful winner", when he is really just a vindictive bully with something to hide. I wonder if making Jeff Sessions fire Mr. McCabe in this way was a loyalty test for Sessions. It makes Sessions look more like Trump's flunky than ever. I have this feeling that Trump is now going to truly set his sights on getting rid of Robert Mueller. Some of the Republicans in Congress who spoke out against it a few months ago, well frankly I don't trust that they will do anything if he tries.
2
"The president is not involved in the firing decisions of career employees like Mr. McCabe. His firing had been recommended by veteran disciplinary officials. But..."
Does anyone here believe that veteran disciplinary officials at the FBI would recommend firing McCabe because of anything Trump said or tweeted?! Heck no, veterans have been in place for a long time, by definition. They cannot be fired by the President either. Most in DC dislike Trump, for reasons I agree with - the man is not likable for most people. I think most of his supporters don't personally like him or his rants. Could be wrong, but regardless, veterans of the FBI are not going to recommend his leaving because of a tweet or because of a 'political backdrop.'
There is plenty to criticize with Trump, but this isn't one of them
1
Sessions and Rosenstein concocted a memo about bad morale at the FBI under Comey as the reason for his firing except Trump subsequently told Lester Holt of NBC News that he fired him for the Russia investigation. Why should we believe anything different with the FBI internal investigation of McCabe which has not been made public?
Sessions is lending his name to the firing to maintain the sham that it has nothing to do with Russia sine he had to recuse himself from those affairs.
Sessions bought himself a few more months on the job but Mueller will convict him of perjury and obstruction in the end. Sessions will end up broke and disgraced, and rightly so.
3
The McCabe firing is another indicator that our democratic Republic is on perilous ground as long as the GOP has full control of our government.
As for McCabe, I believe that he will have his day in the sun and that day will come when he is testifying on the stand while Trump sits in the defendants chair.
One term or less.
So mean and vindictive. To deny a devoted federal employee his hard-earned pension based on odious motives is nauseating. I hope Mr. McCabe writes a book and makes millions, or gets a well-paying job now. Otherwise, we good citizens should start a Go Fund Me campaign to get him his retirement dollars. Just one member of the 1% could take care of it in one fell swoop. This administration is perverse and sadistic, punishing the best and elevating the worst. How did this happen in my country?!
1
Any doubt that at base Sessions fired McCabe only a few days short of his retirement as a sop to the president? Further, this action has Trump's tiny hands all over it. The president is small-minded, ignorant and vindictive, all earmarks of a troubled psyche. This is all part of his goal to interrupt and eventually eliminate Mueller's tightening investigation into Trump's financial dealings with Russian Oligarchs and his close ties with Putin.
The firing of McCabe was ruthless and down right heartless. I hope McCabe fights this tooth and nail. This decision is going to come back and haunt Trump and Sessions, if Sessions lasts that long. That Sessions, in his own stupidity, kowtows to Trump is pathetic and is not going to save him either. This is Trump in his desperation, and we will be seeing more of his reckless measures in the days to come as Mueller gets closer to Trump's shady dealings.
It's rather galling that McCabe gets fired, supposedly for being dishonest while under oath, his accusation is in a "Yet-to-be-released interview", yet in front of the whole world, and in Senate Chambers, we watched Jeff Sessions, openly lie, under oath, with no repercussions..
2
I worked at night in a book store a long time ago. On many nights, DEA agents would come in late and surveil (take pictures, etc.) people across the street while pretending to be reading magazines in my store. I was totally comfortable around them and felt SAFE. I had also seen men from the FBI, Secret Service, etc. come in, buy magazines and occasionally ask me if I knew what those guys were doing and I would always reply, they are your colleagues and the men would exchange a few words. I saw how hard these guys worked to keep ALL OF US SAFE from the miscreants who are out there.
Let's say that Mr McCabe has erred, he is human after all. To dismiss him a few hours before he would be voluntarily leaving and keeping his pension for 20 years or more of service to ALL THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTRY is the most unconscionable thing anyone can do. If my wife or daughter was being threatened by some rapist or killer, I WOULD PRAY for an FBI agent, for Mr McCabe, to be there to protect my family.
I am at a loss of words with what I see happening at the hands of this administration.
2
This is all becoming so Nixonian; I think it will end the same way.
1
John Brennen is correct that the depth and breadth of venality and moral turpitude of Trump and his minions is beyond anything ever seen in our history. It is staggering in scope. But I am not sure that he is right when he says that American will triumph in the end. The damage may be too deep and too ruinous to reverse. It may be that we are witnesses to the end of the America Century, brought down by a man so utterly corrupt and unfit for office that the wasteland he leaves behind will never recover.
2
I think a lot of comments indicate that readers don't quite get what this is about. That's scary, because it means that the vast majority of the public won't either.
Trump just manipulated the Justice Department into a dirty discharge so he can try to undermine the credibility of a key witness in the Mueller inquiry (they'll try to say that McCabe's testimony is sour grapes, even though he's already on the record with much of what he has to say), and so his administration can intensify its attack on the Mueller inquiry itself.
The fact that Trump could push this through means we can now add DOJ to the list of other institutions that are crumbling under Trumps assault.
Trump et al have also blocked the main appeals route for McCabe (the Merit Systems Protection Board) by not making the necessary appointments to keep it functioning. That has implications for every federal employee -- and employees generally if you think that trying to extend the rule of law into the workplace is important for our democracy.
It's very curious that the FBI inspector general faults McCabe not for dishonesty but for his "lack of candor."
Candor is the quality of being open. You can be honest without being candid. Without having read the inspector general's report, the citation of "candor" rather than "honesty" sounds like the inspectors are complaining that McCabe did not spill his guts to them. (This, in turn, says to me that the inspectors failed to ask McCabe the right questions.)
I doubt candor is a quality highly valued or cultivated among FBI personnel, who probably learn early in their careers to be honest but very guarded in everything they say or disclose. Indeed, most lawyers tell their clients to answer questions narrowly without offering up information that is not requested.
Presumably another quality inculcated among FBI officers is a sense of justice, so it will be interesting to see how FBI personnel react to the Administration's gross breach of fair play. Firing McCabe rather than allowing him to retire will not just be demoralizing but infuriating for career law enforcement officers.
1
Anyone who fails to ape the ideology of the Trump administration is now vulnerable to being accused of a lack of candor, and therefore can and will be purged from government. Mr. McCabe's firing is a political assassination draped in language that used to mean something. Now, "lack of candor" means anything Trump and his yes man want it to mean. Despicable.
This does seem to be a continuation by the president to obstruct the investigation of Russian collusion by Mueller. The firing of McCabe a day and a half before he qualified for his full pension at 10 pm on a Friday night is indefensible and highly political.
McCabe defended himself after the firing saying "the idea that I was dishonest is just plain wrong. This is part of a plan to discredit me as a witness in the Mueller investigation."
Then this morning Dowd, the president's lawyer, called for the end of the Mueller Investigation.
1
Sessions said McCabe "had shown a lack of candor under oath on multiple occasions."
Thank you for your observation, Mr. "I don't recall" Sessions.
1
The firing of McCabe one day before his retirement, meant to deprive him of pension benefits, is a very dirty, petty, and vindictive act. Note that Trump never fires anyone to their face. He wants to humiliate them, sure, but the deeper reason is that he is a coward of the first order. Someone might say something to him. Poor, pitiful, petty tyrant! Nothing speaks more clearly to his character - or lack thereof - than these firings. They reek of insecurity. His insults are of a kind, straight from the elementary school playground.
And Sessions! Still carrying water for his "boss". And the excuse for the firing? Laughable, just like the one for Comey. That man should know full well that his head is up next on the chopping block. Only McConnell's threat to refuse to approve a new candidate for the position has saved him so far. That won't last.
So, all these "good" Republicans take a fall in the most publicly humiliating way possible and the GOP yawns. Look, McConnell, he can't fire you. What are you waiting for?
The longer they keep silent, the more I think that they took Russian money, too. The NRA donated $30 million to Trump's campaign and an additional $20-25 million to other campaigns. Where did that money come from and to whom did it go? Not just me, but the FBI wants to know.
1
I'd like to remind Jeff Sessions of two things. First, the President is only loyal to himself. By firing Andrew McCabe, you may have bought yourself some more time as the AG, but it is certainly short-lived. Second, don't forget that old saying about karma. It will be especially gratifying to watch karma work it's magic on you since you have your own problems with candor.
1
I'd like to remind Jeff Sessions of two things. First, the President is loyal to no one, but himself. By firing Andrew McCabe, you may have bought yourself some more time as the AG, but it is certainly short-lived. Second, don't forget that old saying about karma. It will be especially gratifying to watch karma work it's magic on you since you have your own problems with candor.
He still doesn't get what he did wrong. Hopefully Peter and the Paramour will be next.
1
It's becoming more clear that America is rotten. We are rotten from the top: our President and the Republican-controlled Congress and Supreme Court. Don't try to talk around it, call it like it is: America is corrupt and vile.
We sugar-coat too often; but not Fox News or the right-wing hate radio and media. They hate and scream and chant their noxious views. We Democrats are too cool. And yes, Obama was too cool. Where was he when he was supposed to pick a Supreme Court justice? He should have fought loud for that, we needed it. He should have done it for the country. But, alas, Obama and the Democrats acquiesced. Again.
We better realize how poisonous the Republicans have become and call out the treachery and treason. We're too selfish, and by that I mean the wealthy people are glad the tax cut helped them. Rich and powerful and happy; not that enthused about helping the poor or struggling.
Greed begets Trump. Greed is our way, the American Dream. We elected a shifty, lying billionaire to prove it.
He's an evil, autocratic, bully that has no time for democracy or equality or compassion. He knows how dumb we are, how to seduce us with endless 'entertainment' in the guise of firings and wanton temper tantrums & posing as an evangelical or gun rights cowboy or military supporter (though not paying taxes doesn't support it that much, huh?).
Be no fooled: we are Trump. Watching as electoral college spoils democracy. Only watching.
Sometime soon, I pray, we fight for good.
1
This action by Sessions is not only an overt move to try to prove loyalty to 45 but to lay some groundwork for shutting down the Mueller investigation.
It is also an act of intimidation for career intelligence officers, civil servants and federal contractors that they are not safe from losing their hard-earned pensions and jobs if you cross this president or any of his lackeys.
The petty, vindictive evidence can be seen when in firing Comey while he was in California on stage addressing officials, his firing blasted on TV sets behind him. Then 45 wants to strand him out there from using a government plane to return...!
This attempt was to publicly shame Comey and to send a chilling message to ALL at the FBI and "the deep state" that they are NOT safe from the same fate...!
93
Please, Mr. McCabe, for the good of our country, tell us everything you know. And take solace in knowing that history will treat you well and you have many in the public who respect your service!
17
This must not stand. It is past time for OUR legal/political community to stop The Con Don.
It is time for new, unprecedented action to stop this unprecedented hostile financial takeover of OUR governments at every level by the International Mafia Top 1% Global Financial Elite Robber Baron/radical religion Good Old Boys' Cabal.
WE THE PEOPLE are behind you. WE will support you. Take action NOW.
10
Jeffrey Sessions should be charged with obstruction of justice, along with The Con Don and all his lawyers.
5
McCabe lied under oath and was part of the now open secret about the "insurance policy" of the Mueller Russian smokescreen, to date which has turned up zero evidence, of course. Strzok and Page should be next. McCabe's lies led innocent to prison; losing his pension is a slap on the wrist.
No sympathy.
4
There is ZERO independent evidence of any lying on McCabe's part. Sessions, on the other hand, HAS been found to lie under oath.
This firing is political and the fact that some right-wing cult member thinks this is ok just proves the point.
3
A man accused of a “lack of candor” fired at the behest of an Inveterate Liar. By a man who lied to Congress.
21
I hope so many people register to vote and actually go out and vote on Nov. 6 — so many that all the king's horses and all the king's men won't be able to undo with lies and subterfuge what polling place photos and exit polls demonstrate.
13
And the congressional Republicans just sit and watch with their thumbs in their mouths, just like scared little children!
Concerned citizens please vote in masses this November.
16
I hope Mr McCabe will sue the Despicable Bully and will live to see him thrown out of the White House and jailed before his own case is heard. This is a Crowd Funding I would gladly support !
25
Sessions, who lied to Congress during his confirmation hearing and who works for a proven serial liar fired McCabe because he did not "adhere to the highest standards of honesty, integrity and accountability." That's rich. God, I hope there is such a thing as karma!
29
McCabe will be fine.
He will write a book and do select appearances and earn back every penny of his planned pension.
With or without DJT and his flunky’s like sessions, McCabe will survive this unscathed . DJT and session’s, will not.
5
Can presidents be fired for "lack of candor"?
17
“The F.B.I. expects every employee to adhere to the highest standards of honesty, integrity and accountability,” he said" Too bad the POTUS isn't held to the same standard.
10
Whatever one might think of Andrew McCabe - and I certainly questions some of his actions - firing him so he is ineligible for his pension was not the right thing to do. Moreover, Mr. Trump’s “end zone dance” Tweet was tacky - on the level of Odell Beckham Jr.’s dog urination end zone celebration. The President later deleted that Tweet, which confirms that he must know at some level he is incapable of self control. To quote Brian Williams, “scary.”
11
"Andrew McCabe FIRED, a great day for the hard working men and women of the FBI - A great day for Democracy. Sanctimonious James Comey was his boss and made McCabe look like a choirboy. He knew all about the lies and corruption going on at the highest levels of the FBI!"
Mr. Mueller, are we at obstruction of justice yet?
16
For all of you who connect every dot on Russian Collusion, no matter how far fetched, how is it you do not see McCabe’s wife receiving $700K from Terry McAuliffe, a Clinton confident, McCabe then headed up the Clinton email investigation, bringing no charges and having Strok, the anti-Trump FBI “agent”, write the exoneration letter months before the investigation, as anything but a huge conflict of interest? What was McCabe thinking when he did not recuse himself? That’s right, he got paid not to recuse himself and controlled the outcome of the investigation. And we could go over the facts of the Steele Dossier, the FISA warrants, etc.. Lack of candor is a understatement. Democracy is served by McCabe’s firing.
6
I'm afraid the many affected by Trump Derangement Syndrome are too far gone off the deep end to be reached by the glaring facts of McCabe's lying to Congress and the FBI internal affairs. A fact which will be perfectly clear once the Inspector General's report is released. The more troubling fact is that these ignorant people have a vote under our present system of government.
So, did the Clintons give money to her campaign? Or was it just McAuliffe? I’m really asking.
But wait. The President lies to us on a daily basis, and tells those around him they should back him up in those lies. Maybe we should just fire him, and take away his pension! What a great day for Democracy!
17
If anyone can recognize a lack of candor under oath it is Jeff Sessions.
12
Actually, the overwhelming evidence is of an FBI war on Mr. Trump, with abuses at the highest level meant to undermine a candidate and then president that they simply despised.
Russian collusion ? Yeah---between DOJ/FBI/Steele/Fusion GPS/Clinton and the Democratic Natl Cmte.
3
We must show the world that government accountability starts with voters. Vote them out! Every single one!
9
Anyone concerned about the safety of our democracy? Donald is treating our government like Putin treats his! There will be firings if Donald does not approve of you.
To fire a 21-year veteran of the FBI, just days from when he is scheduled to leave and receive his pension is........cruel!
This IS the doing of Donald J. Trump, who is sheer evil. Who is next?
12
i hate to sound like i see putin's hand stirring every pot. But if it's correct that mccabe spent the first half of his career chasing russian mob figures and the second half focusing on national security and terrorism, what are the odds that putin has a firm opinion on the handling of mccabe? plus, what does it say about trump that he nursed his grudge against mccabe for 90 days till he could have him fired just days before his pension was secure? nasty, nasty man. i sure hope someone figures out a very painful, drawn-out, public humiliation for trump. wait, i guess that's what mueller is up to.
10
Whenever I meet with my boss, I thank him each time that he isn't Donald Trump.
4
Everyone can rant to their heart's content. Six words summed this up and McCabe received what was recommended: "F.B.I. disciplinary officials recommended his dismissal." Tell a fib to the FBI or under oath to the Justice Department, and you better lawyer up fast. McCabe received what was recommended, no more or less.
3
“In a statement released late Friday, Mr. Sessions said that Mr. McCabe had shown a lack of candor under oath on multiple occasions.”
Are you kidding me? The hypocrisy that Mr. Sessions, who had to recuse himself from the Russia investigation due his own lack of candor under oath on multiple occasions, would say this as a justification for firing Mr. McCabe boggles the mind. Let’s call it for what it is, a mean-spirited, highly political, gutless move by political hack. In the fine tradition of Chainsaw Al Dunlop and Neutron Jack Welch, we have yet another toady who would have us believe their meanness somehow qualifies as leadership. One more shameful day in the national disgrace that the Trump presidency is. Heaven help us.
10
It's November 27, 2019, and Melania Trump, Stephanie Clifford, Andrew McCabe, Preetinder Bharara, and Robert S. Mueller III have had their day in court. The settlement of Donald John Trump's personal assets, and those of The Trump Organization, is complete. A summary of the distribution, effective, January 1, 2020, is,
Donald John Trump's personal assets distributed to:
Melania & Barron Trump: 66.67%
Stephanie Clifford, et al: 16.67%
Andrew McCabe: 16.66%
The Trump Organization's equity distributed to:
United States of America Treasury, on behalf of the citizens of the United States of America: 100%
Justice has been served.
8
Sessions won't have much sympathy when Trump fires him next.
3
I am so waiting for that little mouse Sessions to get what's coming to him. And waiting for Trump to get what's coming to him. Hopefully Jail.
1
Jeff Sessions, who lied under oath to the Senate, specifically to Al Franken, on the Trump campaign’s connections to Russians, fired McCabe for purportedly “misleading” investigators, he couldn’t even call it a lie. Where does the GOP hypocrisy end?
10
While the firing of Deputy Director McCabe is yet another example of the cruelty and pettiness of President Trump, it also attenuates the fact that there is nothing that Trump won’t do to undermine special counsel Robert S. Mueller’s investigation of Russian interference in the presidential election of 2016. This as well as his belated criticism of apparent Russian aggression on British soil and the fact he still refuses to release his tax returns, makes one wonder what else the Donald is hiding besides his dalliances with a porn star and the 1998 Playboy Playmate of the Year?
1
Trump sure behaves like he has a lot to hide. Firing, or having lap dog Sessions fire McCabe as the investigation get closer looks like a desperate act of someone who knows they are about to be exposed big time.
4
So glad that "Andy" got popped. Strozk, Paige and "Andy" were in "Andy's" office discussing how to prevent Trump from being president and even discussed an "Insurance policy".
Andy also gave Mrs. Clinton an "HQ special" investigation. Paul Manafort and his wife were asleep at 6AM when the FBI picked their lock, rushed in screaming, conviscated phones, files and computers and stayed till 4 PM. When the FBI went to Mrs. Clinton's house they called in advance, rang the doorbell and never searched her house. The FBI probably stayed for tea and crumpits. no soup for you Andy!
1
Generally, antagonizing the FBI is not a good career move for anyone.
2
This appears to be vindictive action. One wholly based on whims of one or more in the current administration. Could it be another attempt to deflect attention from head of state dalliances? Collusion? Russian interference? Admiration of dictators or potentates? Wishing to be a dictator or potentate? Staffing? The Constitiution? The Rule of Law? Or any number of other categories.
It is shameful.
22
No, this all goes back to McCabe telling Trump he would not have chosen to humiliate Comey on Trump's behalf by refusing him the flight home. "Ask your wife how it feels to be a loser." "OK, sir." I applaud that man's civility.
That and the fact McCabe is a witness to Trump's sedition.
The Attorney General, who could barely remember his own name when he testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee and appears to have committed perjury, has a lot of nerve accusing anyone, let alone a 21 year veteran of the FBI, of a “lack of candor.”
33
This is clearly triumped up charges by Sessions and Trump blatant obstruction of justice. McCabe should sue for defamation of character and Congress should chastise and impeach Trump. This is democracy on the line.
14
You are right. We are in the fight of our lives to rid ourselves of the corrupt deep state that has been strangling the tree of liberty.
You just got all the details wrong.
The scary thing IMO is the president of the United States technically doesn't have to consult anyone about questionable (and cruel) decisions - when he's got a Congress, Cabinet, and a good part of a Supreme Court who will simply nod at those decisions and tell him he's brilliant or say nothing. It's becoming clear that no one in proximity to President Trump will stand up to him.
Since this is a TV president, perhaps look at the situation in TV terms: The United States has now entered the season finale of "Battlestar Galactica", Season 2. That's when the newly elected (and wholly incompetent) President Gaius Baltar was warned of catastrophic danger ahead from the Russians - I mean, the Cylons - by Admiral William Adama:
Admiral Adama: "You're not listening."
Dr. Baltar: "I don't have to listen. I'm the President."
See the parallel? I don't think we want to see the rest of the parallel (that's part 2 of the finale) when the Russians - I mean, the Cylons - swooped in and took over in a surprise attack, inadvertently aided by President Baltar's idiotic moves.
Sometimes life imitates art. Given the recent stirrings of the Cylon (Russian) empire, IMO it would be wise to cancel this Trump show before Season 3 - Cylon-occupied territory, airstrikes, prison camps, torture - starts production.
12
The scary thing IMO is the president of the United States technically doesn't have to consult anyone about questionable (and cruel) decisions - when he's got a Congress, Cabinet, and a good part of a Supreme Court who will simply nod at those decisions and tell him he's brilliant or say nothing. It's becoming clear that no one in proximity to President Trump will stand up to him.
Since this is a TV president, perhaps look at the situation in TV terms: The United States has now entered the season finale of "Battlestar Galactica", Season 2. That's when the newly elected (and wholly incompetent) President Gaius Baltar was warned of catastrophic danger ahead from the Russians - I mean, the Cylons - by Admiral William Adama:
Admiral Adama: "You're not listening."
Dr. Baltar: "I don't have to listen. I'm the President."
See the parallel? I don't think we want to see the rest of the parallel (that's part 2 of the finale) when the Russians - I mean, the Cylons - swooped in and took over in a surprise attack, inadvertently aided by President Baltar's idiotic moves.
Sometimes life imitates art. Given the recent stirrings of the Cylon (Russian) empire, IMO it would be wise to cancel this Trump show before Season 3 - Cylon-occupied territory, airstrikes, prison camps, torture - starts production.
Does anyone know exactly what "lack of candor" was discovered that led to this? Can we "fire" the President and his coterie for this same lack?
13
Lying. He lied. He is a liar. You know, the thing the Mueller is indicting people for? Lying. Lying. Lying.
Dont worry, the corruption charge and trial is coming soon.
2
I appreciate your response, Carl. But what do you have as a source of information on McCabe's lying that I have not yet seen? What exactly did he lie about, to whom and who has confirmed this? The judgement to date seems to be that he exhibited a certain "lack of candor." I cannot equate that to "lying" without seeing the full report. The WSJ didn't seem to sniff this out.
"The F.B.I. expects every employee to adhere to the highest standards of honesty, integrity and accountability,” he said. “I have terminated the employment of Andrew McCabe effective immediately.”
Mr. president, when are you going to be held to the same standards?
Mr. Sessions, when are you going to be held to the same standards?
Mr. president you should be FIRED long time ago.
We just don't believe in anything you say or do!
There is no justice in this country. It's all about money and power.
This is shameful, horrifying and destructive.
We need change.
Where are the powerful democrats who got us here?
What are you doing to fix the mess you have created?
11
More Grist for the mill in Mr. Mueller's investigation, as Donald Trump hides behind a facade of "I'm not involved", as his flunky Jeff Sessions does his bidding at the Justice department. The nefarious underpinnings of this corrupt administration are becoming clearer every day as one looks forward to a 'day of reckoning'.
31
Jeff “I can’t recall” Sessions fired Mr. McCabe for lack of candor? The irony burns.
42
This should a signal to all Americans. Trump will stop at nothing to destroy anyone who speaks truth to him.
34
Not just Trump – lots of players groveling at his feet and all around him searching for cover.
"Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive"
The web is unraveling fast.
Readers who are commenting have NO idea what else McCabe may have done over the years...they are eager to go back 30 years for Trump's history, but form their opinions on McCabe's firing on the selective-fact-reporting of the media. I remind you, the media do not know all the facts either. People need to calm down.
Sorry, but you're wrong in this instance. The timing, the constant battering by Trump against McCabe and the FBI in general and McCabe's knowledge of possible evidence of Trump/Russian collusion make this all highly suspect. Trump has too much to gain from discrediting this decades-long civil servant--and it's Trump--to give him (the president) the benefit of the doubt.
Trump's libels are also not facts, so I resent your insistence we not view this as an attack on justice.
Shades of Stalin. Purges and disparagement of any opposition based on spurious charges and calumny. All intended to intimidate the Civil Service and bring it to heel under Trump.
34
Trump is mocking a person whom he helped get fired 26 hours before they can receive full retirement benefits. On Twitter, and the whole world watches a president mock a citizen. If we were watching this behavior coming from France, Germany, Australia, Britian -- what would we be thinking? And I wonder what Trump voters are thinking; how does this behavior jive with his working-man rhetoric? Trump will never face the loss of pension, and even jail time won't dry up his funds.
If McCabe can sue the so-called president for defamation, I will send him some money to do so. Maybe it's time for a go-fund-me page.
42
A "go fund me page" for McCabe is a great idea. But I think we need to start doing more to counter this unbalanced President.
Mr. Sessions statement on FBI expectations from employees provides a neat template for impeachment.
“The People of the United States expect every employee (person they elect) to adhere to the highest standards of honesty, integrity and accountability,” Congress said. “We have terminated the employment of (impeached) President Donald Trump effective immediately.”
19
HA! “Lack of candor” cited by Secretary “I don’t recall” Jeff Sessions to justify firing someone Trump believes is out to get him. This administration is making hypocrisy an art form.
26
Is this obstruction of Justice? Beyond the petty sadism of Trump, that is?
13
Everything about the Trump Administration is like a special edition of The Onion, come to life.
24
What trump and sessions have done here is about low down and dirty as it gets. They've both shown (as if any more proof was needed) what they're made of, and it's some mighty ugly stuff.
I've lived long enough to have a witnessed that thing we sometimes refer to as karma. I just hope I'm around when it pays them a visit... 'cause man have they got it coming.
39
Very true. Karma can take a long, elliptical orbit but it always comes back. I hope I’m around to see it too.
1
I wonder when the arrests will start?
12
The real question to me is "executing a Republican (metaphorically speaking) really wrong or an act of patriotic self-defense"? I'm not saying which Republican, but just that the GOP represents treason to me, thus is treason punishable by execution.
13
You bring up a very good point. We keep reacting to the outrages by our current President and yet WHERE IS THE REPUBLICAN PARTY? Are they hiding in their closets? They are terrified of our press because they have no answers except how they support President Trump.
When you read the history of the Third Reich and other authoritarian systems, the overt, one-sided politicization of all social elements is clear: medicine, journalism, education, law making and law enforcement, the arts, all become instruments of the ideology and will of the ruler(s). If, or when, we read the history of this era in the U.S., that's what we'll see.
Thank you, Republicans, social media, Citizens United, Rupert Murdoch, for allowing us to experience what China, Russia, most of Europe and Asia, all of the Americas except Canada and Costa Rica have experienced.
32
Most commenting here blame Sessions entirely for this firing. So, despite all your respect for the FBI, you believe he should have overruled the FBI's recommendation?
5
Several stories about how that process was perverted. Looking forward to a full confrontation in the courts.
2
Now that Mr. McCabe has been fired, isn't he free to tell the world what he knows?
23
I think Andrew McCabe, now free to fully express his views, will blow the lid off the barrel of misconduct by Donald Trump and his lackeys. He will be interviewed on cable news and perhaps on "60 Minutes." He will probably write a book about what he knows, which is plenty. If he chooses to take his case to court, there is no telling how much wrongdoing will be revealed.
19
It becomes daily more apparent that the charge and label of "deep state" is nothing more than a fictional foil for those who would advocate "no state", namely, complete, unassailable autocracy. Of course, the one to "free" us magically from this pernicious grip of the "deep state"--to make us "great again"--is the most self-sanctimonious man in the land: Donald Trump. This is where this parasitic and narcissistic man draws his sense of personal well being day to day, and from where he draws his followers and power.
Just imagine: No state, no law but frontier justice, no financial regulation of markets and banking, no monitoring of water and resources, no infrastructure, no regular democratic process? Nothing more than household after household armed to the teeth with AR 15s to guard against predatory neighbors, outsiders, and would-be legions of the "deep state"? Then again, can you truly envision public order and well being coming from the mouth and hand of this man alone? Just think back over the past two years! What good has it done any of us for Mister Strategic Chaos (there's a joke) to "shake things up in Washingfon", so to speak? "Swamps" are at least environments with their own ecological logic; what we have in the White House is nothing short of a "cesspool."
6
I saw a bumper sticker this week that said “Elect a Clown, Get a Circus”. Sadly it’s an embarrassing and sad circus that will cost Americans millions of dollars and years to clean up. The cost of McCabe’s lawsuit to recoup his pension due to say, age discrimination,will be a tiny portion of the overall dollar cost but it’s credibility cost will be huge.
136
Book him, Danno! He can write, can't he? No NDA!
or probably another smoke screen to the Stormy Daniels debacle.
3
I have to credit Sessions for his gall. To fire someone for a "lack of candor under oath" after himself lying outright during and after his confirmation hearing takes a level of shamelessness well and truly worthy of this administration.
24
Maybe it was the result of a deal : I'll fire you if you don't fire McCabe.
No gall required just lack of dignity, integrity or self-respect.
Something Republicans have in spades.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions fired Andrew McCabe for a lack of honesty.
Pot, meet kettle. I assume the Attorney General will next fire himself for committing perjury during his confirmation hearing when he lied about his contacts with Russians.
20
this firing was recommend by career professionals at the FBI and is the right move. this man's crimes and corruption were clear and the stuff of East German stasi. it has no place in America. he should have recused himself from the Clinton email investigation, an investigation that was rigged to ensure she got off. then, he cooked up an "insurance policy" with Peter Sztrok to sabotage the incoming administration. and perhaps worse of all, it was done to cover up massive abuses of our civil liberties and 4th amendment abuses.
2
Sessions lied under oath.
Trump lies all the time.
You must be arguing we should fire both Sessions and Trump.
A lot of people agree with you.
MASA - Make America Smart Again.
How is this NOT abuse of power? Trump and all the GOP are complicit.
11
How about a new slogan for future elections:
Make those who govern America honest again?
4
Well, I don’t usually associate Donald and his administration with heights, but here we are at the very pinnacle of hypocrisy.
According to the Washington Post, in the first year of his presidency, Donald has made over 2140 false or misleading claims. He made some more today in his tweet about Andrew McCabe. It’s not a great day for the FBI, for starters. The hardworking patriotic men and women of FBI haven just seen the second high level scalp taken for purely personal reasons—to protect a corrupt president. A clear message has been sent—drink the KookAid, speak no evil or be tortured and fired. Fortunately, I imagine that their dedication to mission runs a lot deeper.
In the kindest interpretation, Jeff Sessions is an amnesiac Confederate elf. But many of us believe otherwise. That is to say, he perjured himself repeatedly in answering questions about his contacts with Russians. For him to use the phrase less than candid in relation to any other human being save Donald is ludicrous.
Andrew McCabe, please know that millions of Americans are grateful for your service and we support you fully. We believe you. While it may have been their intention to discredit you as a witness, they have failed.
12
So it's not called lying anymore....just "lack of candor"? When does he get charged? After all it was under oath. This is a finding by an internal investigation via the FBI's internal review. Nothing to do with Trump. If you attack the findings, you are attacking the FBI. What's good for the goose is good for the gander.
1
Sessions lied under oath.
Trump lies all the time.
So you are arguing we should also fire Sessions and Trump.
A lot of people agree with you.
MASA - Make America Smart Again
I hope he hires the best "employment" attorney in the country & sues for wrongful termination. The depositions would probably be very revealing!
11
I thoroughly enjoyed Clive Goodman's against Murdoch. He was told he could keep his job after prison if he LIED to the court about all the other hackers who work for Murdoch.
1
I don’t think I’ve ever seen such gross, succinct, vindictive, transparently evil acts from an American administration in my life.
Even the invasion of Iraq, perhaps the single most evil act of the American overnment since Vietnam, had at least a more plausible fig leaf.
And to have Sessions imply perjury is poet in its evilness.
One thinks of karma being 18 months pregnant.
25
Andrew McCabe was fired by Jeff Sessions. Christopher Wray is his nominal boss; why didn't Wray fire McCabe? Is this significant?
15
The irony that J. Sessions fired McCabe because of a “lack of candor”, while Sessions had to recuse himself from the Russia investigation because he failed to acknowledge some of his personal contacts with Russians, boggles one’s mind.
43
Where can I pre-order his memoir?
Especially looking forward to the chapter whet he wins the wrongful dismissal suit.
26
I want the first signed copy! I'll pay a premium price for this nice man's words!!
3
I just hope for our country's sake that Mr. Mueller has an apparatus in place to get everything out before he is fired.
27
Nixon had his "enemies list" but nothing matches the vindictiveness and arrogance of Emperor Donald the Dumb, whose sees his decrees from on high as law.
Whatever else might be going on with McCabe's past, the timing of this firing was mean, vindictive and completely unnecessary. He was about to retire in 26 hours. This is entirely in character with the Trump administration, where cruelty and revenge is a major motivation for administrative action. I am ashamed at this action, not just for the unnecessary humiliation heaped on Mr. McCabe, but for the continued lack of professionalism in the White House, which seems to be operating on Trumpian whims rather than any kind of dignity and administrative decorum.
Humiliation and being thrown under the bus is going to be the fate of anyone who enters Trump's royal court. It is guaranteed. Wise people will stay away from this dangerous man and his even more dangerous henchmen.
34
Jeff (I Can’t Recall) Sessions accuses FBI Director McCabe of “a lack of candor under oath?”
That is rich!
We are witnessing the end of the Trump administration- it is imploding.
28
Our law enforcement, our scientists, our kids, all of us, are being manipulated and bullied by a failed real estate showman and cronies, History, does indeed, repeat. Tragic.
19
Any pretext that McCabe's firing had anything to do with his mishandling of the 2016 Clinton e-mail investigation went out the window this morning -- John Dowd's statement made that clear enough if Trump's tweets didn't already.
17
In a long line of outrages by Trump and his cronies, this is amongst the scariest and dirtiest, perhaps THE scariest and dirtiest, that I have read. The attacks made by the president and his White House cohorts on the FBI are a glaring attack on the nation's top law enforcement department by what looks more and more everyday to be a criminal enterprise. After the outrage over the firing of Comey, I always felt that there was something alarming and ominous in the subsequent brazen smearing of Comey's reputation with Trump's gloating disparagement of him to Russians in the Oval Office. Since then the attacks on the FBI have been continuous, including the pushing out of McCabe. But once again the intent to destroy the reputations of those whom they perceive as enemies emerges, indicating a malicious intent to do harm in what is nothing more than an attempt to evade and destroy the Russia investigation. Sessions gets my unbridled disrespect for his hypocrisy. This is the result of the justice system allowing Sessions to get away with lying before a Congressional committee. Recusal? Congress should have demanded his resignation.
32
I hope McCabe sees a jail cell. Give him the same mercy of all the other Americans he bullied over the years. And take away his license to practice law.
2
Can you provide some examples of ‘Americans that he bullied over the years’? That seems like a pretty broad statement to make.
3
Jeff Sessions, Paul Ryan, and Ron Johnson, where are your "highest standards of honesty, integrity and accountability"? We continue to look for them, but are yet to see or hear a rebuttal to a failing president...Wisconsin wonders where you are and why your constituency does not seem to matter.
14
Firing McCabe is one of many examples of Trump's inability to foresee the consequences of his actions. McCabe is now OUT and about, free to tell the American people about the vindictive, mendacious actions of the DOJ that are dismantling our justice system. Hopefully, we will soon hear similar stories from Tillerson and Cohn. (STEP UP, guys!)
Likewise, Trump starts trade wars without any thought to how other countries are free to inflict the same pain on our economy. And he makes similar threatening gestures all over the world, such as threatening North Korea with nuclear annihilation without giving any thought to how their allies--e.g., China--will retaliate.
The sociopath in the White House is apparently incapable of thinking one step beyond impulsive retaliation. Retaliation is a two-way street, as most functional adults understand.
23
Attorney General Jeff "I cannot remember" Sessions declares that McCabe has "shown a lack of candor under oath"? Wow, that is some rich pot/kettle irony.
17
"A great day for Democracy" tells us the most dangerous man for Democracy in America.
There were tougher times in our history, but never as dishonest. Where's our last resort?! Our Representatives? They all, the majority, are Republican, and they are on a kamikaze mission to save the republican President. November 2018 is our last hope.
17
Jeff Sessions is caught lying and he tells it was a memory lapse. He gets to keep his job. This guy gets humiliated and loses his benefits. If what he did was so bad, why didn't they fire him as soon as they found out about the breach? The smartest person is Mrs. Trump Jr. She is getting out while the getting out is good.
17
This is unacceptable. To fire a high ranking member of the FBI the day before he retires, and as a result for him to lose his pension after 21 years of dedication to his country is outrageous.
The message this sends to everyone in the government is clear - do what Trump says, or risk your retirement, your future and you family's livelihood. Is this really what it's come to? Is this how we believe government should work? Why is it OK for us to be ruled by fear rather than sound policies? Where are the adults?
Wake up Democrats and Republicans alike - our democracy is under attack. This behavior can't stand. Threats, blackmail, corruption - this isn't America.
299
He won't lose his pension and will be eligible to take it at age 56 years and 8 months (Minimum Retirement Age).
What he is not eligible for (due to being terminated two days short of age 50) is early retirement. However, by waiting until MRA, his monthly pension will be larger than if he had taken it at age 50.
2
Our democracy is under attack... from people have sworn to defend the constitution (McCabe), yet who take money from the political elite (HRC) to attack their opponents (POTUS).
Like the famous commercial, this is your brain on drugs, this is our American under Trump and the deplorables.
That Sessions, a known perjurer, determined that McCabe could not stay a day later and collect his pension because of McCabe's alleged lack of candor, is beyond outrageous and vicious. That is was urged by Trump, the biggest liar in the history of American politics, who was interfering in an internal matter about which he should have kept his big mouth shut, makes it worse still.
Since the man was going to retire anyway on Sunday, this unpardonable attack was totally unnecessary it the problem was that Trump was uncomfortable with men of honor and integrity in the FBI.
I hope McCabe can sue for justice, but who knows, now that Trump has packed the courts. But even if he wins, Session and Trump will not be paying the price.
2
Every election day from now on is essential in preserving our democracy. Greed and ignorance? Not for me!
11
This is a clear case of political intimidation aimed at anyone else who might "cross" the president. By firing McCabe a day before he was leaving voluntarily, the White House is warning everyone else that they will vindictively destroy people who may get in their way. Tyranny at its worst. Hopefully it backfires and McCabe is now emboldened to stand up, speak the truth of Comey's firing publicly, and put his 20 year record of service against trump's 1 year of corruption in front of the people for judgement on who the liar in the room really is.
19
Trump and his associates have a history of lying, the FBI does not. What if Trump confidants lied to the Governor General to make it look like McCabe lied? By the way, the head of the FBI, including Comey, has discretion when it comes to talking to the Press. It is their call.
10
Trump administration handled this perfectly--snagged the little self-serving rabbit just before he got under the fence.
This fellow will be serving time next to Hillary before this is over with Obama, Rice, and Comey on the docket.
More Obama collateral damage from Mueller coming to a court house soon.
4
I think you are haunting the wrong establishment. Bot and sold, you are told off the island.
2
Trump's basic meanness is revealed.
23
It was revealed ages ago when he cheated small contractors who built his defunct NJ casinos.
2
Trump supporters acting as if they care about candor?
Really?
32
"F.B.I. disciplinary officials recommended his dismissal." Did the White House pressure these officials or intimidate them? If not did Mr. McCabe really commit offenses that merited him being fired? Under any other circumstance these would seem reasonable questions to ask. But after reading the Trump tweets and listening to Sarah Huckabee Sanders continue to disgrace herself and realizing how utterly clueless she and her boss are in not realizing all administrations end and the truth comes out like an uncontrollable Tsunami leaving in its wake irreparably damaged reputations and worse, I cast my unqualified support for Andrew McCabe,
35
"I cast my unqualified support for Andrew McCabe"
Elliott,
Don't you think you should wait for the facts to come out? I realize you dislike Trump but to ascribe all the world's evils to him - speaking figuratively of course - is hardly a judicious way to get at the truth.
McCabe lied under oath on multiple occasions. He'll make a great witness.
1
It's been documented that Sessions has, too!
2
I recall that Obstruction of Justice can be found even in cases where there is “cause” - but if done with corrupt intent.
So, I wonder if the issue here is less whether there was “cause” for the firing of McCabe, no matter how flimsy, but if the intent to do so was corrupt.
We have an Attorney General making that decision, whose Boss is considering firing him (for not following his orders sufficiently). And we have a Boss, Trump, who has berated McCabe publicly and mercilessly, also publicly called for Sessions to fire him.
Do we not have sufficient grounds, then, to consider that the firing of McCabe, like the firing of Comey, was done for corrupt reasons? Thus, obstructing Justice.
23
Fellow Americans, please do not twist this for your projected purpose. Fact - career officials at the FBI/DOJ recommended he be fired. Why? They can tell you best. People are mad at Trump for pointing out the corruption that is present in our government. The FBI is not immune to problems - there are humans that work there and they have beliefs and foibles like anyway. A stellar organization for sure - however, what pollutes it, is whitewashing away corruption (whether intended or not). The FBI and DOJ did the right thing by recommending his firing - a high standard of ethics must be upheld. Sure President Trump is overly direct about it (and frankly classless about it), but he is right - drain the swamp of corruption. I'm proud of the FBI for doing what is right.
3
I would question those accusations. If he had done anything improper, wouldn't his colleagues, who are sworn to uphold the law, have done something? Every Federal entity also has an Office of Inspector General to which employees can submit information without being exposed. Won't look good for the FBI, if it didn't look into something like this before now.
Norma, do you really not understand that McCabe is being fired after an internal FBI investigation where the FBI personnel office made the recommendation that he be fired?
surely the timing of the firing must trouble you. Ethics must be upheld, but a friday at 10pm firing, only 24 hours before his retirement following a 20 year career, means that this action smacks of - not "ethics enforcement" by his peers, but politicized, banana republic-type vindictive action. See the statement by the FBI Agents Association for reinforcement of this analysis.
1
With the firing of Andrew McCabe and the president tweeting gleefully over this action, I continue to feel mounting fear for the well being of our country. This is a real Putin like move on the part of DJT. With each assault he makes on accepted norms of behavior and governing (that the rest of us at least try to follow) he seems to be moving closer to being a dictator since nobody in the mainstream Republican Party will challenge him. The Republican party is afraid of Trump and will turn a blind eye to anything he does.
United States of America - we are in big trouble. VOTE VOTE VOTE in November.
24
The longer this goes on, and the worse it gets, the less I can stand the sight of people (including friends) who elected this man.
32
@Jeff: I'm sure the feeling is mutual.
1
I have a simple solution - have nothing to do with them - believe me it works -
All federal employees should go on strike to protest this egregious act of revengeful political persecution against one of their own.
11
“The F.B.I. expects every employee to adhere to the highest standards of honesty, integrity and accountability.” It’s too bad Sessions doesn’t hold himself to the same standard, or demand it from the president.
21
It is time to impeach. Comparing a "lack of candor" to several whopping lies told each day of Trump's presidency is particularly rich, and this is one more part of the coverup.
18
Mike: It is LONG PAST time to impeach. The lot of these miscreants and crooks has to be LOCKED UP. Impeachment at this point, is just a slap on the wrist, for what I see as high crimes. It is more than just a cover-up; it is an ongoing GOP orgy of greed, corruption, hatred, con artistry, racism, and a clearly developing despotism and dictatorship that is fast overtaking our freedoms and our democracy. Anyone who is not afraid is a fool.
2
Not a fan of McCabe (or Comey) but this unnecessary act of pettiness just looks like an attempt to intimidate anyone else who might sep out of line - and like Sessions trying to curry favour with Trump and stave off his own dismissal. And Huckabee Sanders comments are throughly unprofessional. How has a lack of professionalism and integrity become so endemic in both American politics and within administrative bodies? And how can it ever be remedied when it is political and government leaders themselves who embody this lack of values?
14
I would like to rebut what one commenter has said. True, it is a different perspective than mine, and I need to respect that and respectfully disagree. But I find it necessary to write my opinion on McCabe and the FBI so he and others can hear the "other side."
First, thousands of us, rather than finding McCabe, Mueller, Comey, and the FBI deceitful, on the contrary find Trump and his minions to be liars (I can say it), manipulative, and not to be trusted under any and all circumstances.
Next, those thousands of us refuse to tolerate any more - if ever - the blatant and close to treasonous behavior of this administration, e.g., the suspicious harmony between two thugs, Putin and Trump.
Lastly, let this Special Counsel's truthful and diligent findings to date be a lesson and "example" to Trump, his Cabinet, and his Congress that their responsibility is to country, to us, not to Wall Street, their wealthy and most likely corrupt donors, to greed and money.
18
McCabe's firing is a badge of honor, not an indictment of his character. Far from discrediting him as a witness or in any other way, in my view his firing signals that he cannot be bullied or bought. Contrast that with AG Jeff Sessions, who ought to be ashamed of himself for being willing to be a stooge for a vicious Trump and deprive a public servant of his duly earned pension.
14
What irony. The person who has lied under oath and lacked candor tp the nth degree over and over (Sessions) fired a dedicated public servant for what will likely turn out to be technical infractions (if any exist at all), Just to hurt the FBI and the Mueller probe. Sessions has created the justification for his own firing and for a fatal jolt to that inquiry. Trump set him up well for that outcome.
15
Certified banana republic behaviour. Vindictive, and desperate attempt to hold on to power at all costs. And the last bit of the stongman's trifecta: Trump, via his attorney, has now linked the firing to the Mueller probe, stating that the probe should now end!
12
I weep for Andrew McCabe. What happened to him is awful. This is how we treat our civil servants?
13
Civil servant?
He’s a Duke undergrad with a JD from Washington U. He’s 49 years old and trying to retire. He’ll get a retirement package that will pay him around $175,000 with healthcare for life. He’s going to write a book then go on to become a seven figure lobbyist. This isn’t a mailman.
3
Johannes de Silentio NYC :
Despite current 'role models' in high office, business and celebrity some people still have dignity, self-respect and integrity, which believe it or not is invaluable. No amount of dollars can ever buy any of these things.
1
We are in desperate need for some more critical heros.
As he (Hugh Thompson) told The Associated Press in 2004: "Don't do the right thing looking for a reward, because it might not come."
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/07/us/hugh-thompson-62-who-saved-civilian...
2
There were a lot of questionable things in McCabe's recent pass. Even the IG and official reports said that he was less than candid.At some point it seems he became too political and that in the end cost him his job.
1
So Sessions, who lied repeatedly to the Senate about his meetings with Russians, fires McCabe for his "lack of candor"? This would be laughable if it wasn't tragic for McCabe who, don't forget, is a witness to Comey's memorialized remarks about his meetings with Trump, & recall what's happened to the other such witnesses: they're all gone from their high positions in the FBI. I don't think that's coincidental.
Also; isn't Sessions recused from making decisions about witnesses to aspects of the Mueller investigation? And a late Friday night firing with no opportunity to hear from McCabe in his own defense?? This whole thing stinks to high heaven!
But let's stand back for a moment from the drama & high feelings raised by this further display of mendacity from various members of the Trump Gang currently holding all the reins of government. What's other things are going on here? This is yet another shiny object: a classic Trumpian distraction.
What are we NOT supposed to be focused on right now? Stormy Daniels lawsuits? The purported threats of violence against her? Or is it rather the stories about Russians controlling our nuclear power sites? Or the President's mealy-mouthed response to Putin's string of assassinations in London? Or is it the many stories about the wild spending of public money by his Cabinet Secretaries acting like privileged potentates? So many egregious stories, so little time.
This winter of our discontent grinds on...
13
Mr. McCabe is a liar, under oath. He also dampened the investigation into the Clinton Foundation. Quite frankly, there is a mountain of facts that point very strongly to the upper management of the FBI, that they had been severely politicized. They protected Mrs. Clinton, and perhaps Mr. Obama, and now it's beginning to unravel. They sought to harm the candidacy of Mr. Trump, and now seek to harm President Trump through the phony investigation of Robert Mueller. The fake dossier was presented to a Federal judge as if it were some sort of actual evidence so that they could get permission to spy on the Trump campaign. Whoever was involved in it should be in jail. McCabe is part of it. He should pay and be prosecuted.
1
Reality Check: we have what appears to me IMO) as an erratic individual as POTUS. It is a fundamental responsibility of citizens to promote and protect our country. To do so, we need to have access all information and hear all sides, opinions and facts.FREEDOM OF SPEECH, Where would we be now without it? Where are we heading now as our free speech is being threatened?
It’s interesting to read Mr. McCabe’s claim that he was targeted for firing by President Trump because the president “wants to destroy him as part of his “war” against special counsel Robert Mueller”. Never mind that the as yet unreleased Inspector General’s report notes his apparent “lack of candor under oath on multiple occasions” when questioned about his handling of the Clinton probe. Never mind that FBI officials recommended his dismissal
I don’t recall any complaint from Mr. McCabe about the tactics used by FBI agents in conducting an unannounced interview with General Michael Flynn, a highly decorated war veteran, over a potentially criminal matter without first advising the White House or him having a lawyer present. Nor do I recall any sympathy from Mr. McCabe for what some would describe as a coerced guilty plea to one count of making false statements to the FBI even though then FBI Director Comey reportedly told lawmakers that the interviewing agents did not believe he lied to them.
It’s interesting to note that General Flynn faces potential jail time for “lying” about an episode that was perfectly legal and thus far irrelevant. Nevertheless the FBI has used it to ruin a man’s career. Mr. McCabe can whine about being victimized but but some would characterize his “suffering” as poetic justice for his part in facilitating what increasingly appears to be an investigation initiated on false premises and deceitful practices.
1
There’s more to come, tremendous corruption inside the federal bureaucracy. Both in the FBI and the Justice Department it’s like anything else it’s a reflection of society today. They started well before Obama but the Democrats and Obama Exceller rated the process... it’s all about power and control!
2
As others have noted, Trump's firing of McCabe is a harbinger of things to come. He has used Sessions yet one more time. He may use him again to fire Rosenstein, and install one of his toadies to shut down Mueller's investigation. But at some point, he will also fire Sessions.
So understand this - as long as Trump has the solid support of forty percent of this country's voters (as polls seem to indicate), he may do literally anything he wants, up to and including suspending national elections. He may shut down the press. He may impose martial law. He may order the round-up of dissidents, ethnic and religious minorities, and anyone else he considers his "enemies". He may do all these things with impunity, as long as he has the support of his rabid base. He literally wields the power to do all these things - now. Congressional Republicans are still terrified of Trump's base. They will not cross him. And two-thirds of the states are controlled by Republicans, elected officials who would have no trouble with aiding the implementation of any fascist decree Trump issues.
Trump knows this, and his supporters know this.
And with Trump's base behind them, Congressional and state Republicans will have no concerns about the dismantling of our constitutional rights and protections.
This is America now, not some fictitious dystopian future. Only the most foolish and naive among us still believe a fascist dictatorship could never happen here. Because it is happening. Right now.
14
McCabe faced the equivalent of Internal Affairs within the FBI. "Lack of candor under oath" is FBI speak for "you lied". E-mails with Peter Stoh indicate a possible conspiracy to meddle with a Presidential election. When the emails became public, McCabe quickly filed for retirement. Saying he is being singled out is journalistic incompetence. McCabe was second-in-command. I would like to see the Inspector General's report. I believe McCabe knows what's in it and tried to get put of town before it's release. All the "Trump noise" will not drown out the facts. The FBI rank and file deserve better. This is a first step in cleaning up the agency. The Lynch-Comey-McCabe cabal should face justice.
1
The Tyrant Trump throws another temper tantrum; he kicks McCabe to the curb.
Jeff Sessions of the "I do not recall speaking with the Russians" testimony does the "firing."
It is a precursor to another Saturday Night Massacre. Friday night's ambush of Andrew McCabe is just a little preview. My bet is that every time Mueller issues another subpoena that another head will roll. The Tyrant Trump has no idea of his own transparency.
That's okay. Robert Mueller will do that for him.
11
At this point one must have to wonder whether Trump is merely going to fire Mueller, Rosenstein and the staff who have been working on the investigation or will Trump take that last step and arrest those who he feels need to be incarcerated for an indeterminate period and incomunicato. Having no access to press, legal counsel or court hearing for bail and release. This is truely frightening. And knowing Trump's impulsiveness perhaps a possibliity. And the Republican party faithful in congress continue to aid an abet. This scenario is right out of Putins' playbook on being the leader forever.
5
Something tells me that this rushed “investigation” has been cherry-picked to fit the desired conclusions of a CIC who has descended into the Inferno of sadistic, vindictive sadism.
I pray for this nation which is on the brink of descending into despotism.
9
If a supposed lack of candor is enough to pillory a deputy FBI director, and I do believe that 'supposed' is an appropriate adjective here, then the entire Trump administration, top to bottom, should be fired. Alleged lack of candor versus outright lies and refusal to answer questions seems to be a slender thread on which to basically pauperize a long-term, respected agent. Not a huge fan of the FBI, but this series of attacks smells fishy to me.
5
I posted yesterday here in the comments that every Friday I have come to expect either a firing or an indictment. It was morning. I ran my errands, came home, opened the news and saw that everything was on schedule.
Trump clearly thinks he is still on tv and each week must finish the show with his slogan. Too bad he didnt get a slogan like Martha Stewart.
5
May be the turning point in this troubled presidency -- this--and the Stormy Daniels' muzzle.
The coldness and callousness of Trump/Session will come back to bite them both.
Americans are too good and smart not to find this presidency an historical joke. Folks are patient and tend to give others the benefit of the doubt, but Trump's incendiary conduct will torch him in the end.
Sessions will be fired and no one will care. What is good for the goose is good for the gander.
Trump will be taken from office and no one will care. He deserves it, they'll all say.
5
Donald Trump's efforts to kill the investigation into his 2016 campaign's possible involvement with the Russians has resulted in what appear to be a multi-part obstruction of justice. A major part of that is the long smear efforts against James Comey and those top officials then at the FBI to whom Comey confided his conversations with the President.
Andrew McCabe is collateral damage. The President and his team are preparing for a possible indictment by Special Prosecutor Mueller and/or impeachment by the next Congress, whose House increasing appears will be led by the Democrats. The Trump team wants to be able to discredit McCabe's testimony by claiming that he and the FBI engaged in such extreme unethical actions that he had to be fired on the last hours of his last day before retirement.
Fortunately, Mr. Mueller, not the Justice Department led by Attorney General Sessions, will get to the bottom of this contrived and despicable action against Mr. McCabe. I suspect that Mr. McCabe will get the last laugh in this fight and the chance to testimony before a House impeachment panel and at several trials of Trump aides involved in this legal perversion, including the Attorney General.
4
Firing McCabe was a move to discredit the FBI, Mueller's investigation and to threaten any one else who is thinking of going up against Trump.
This is not going to be like the Saturday Night Massacre. Nixon and others had a enough (very little, but enough) decency to do the right thing in the end. Trump and his crew, the majority of the GOP included, are without a moral compass. They could care less about the needs of the American people or the Constitution.
3
The only "positive" interpretation of McCabe's firing is that Sessions may have been protecting his job, and by extension, Mr. Mueller.
If Sessions had not gone along with Trump's demand, HE would have been fired, which would have allowed the appointment of a new AG - NOT recused - who would then have fired Mueller.
Whatever the reason, we are approaching a banana republic.
If the poor pitiful Republicans can't manage to impeach Trump, maybe they could manage to censure him.
And isn't Trump done with beating up Clinton yet? Talk about an obsession!
7
Trump is acting like a Russian asset. This firing is to is to iligitimize James Comey's future testimony. Also Andrew McCabe investigated Russia as an agent. Trump is in every way unfit for the presidency. Remove him now.
15
It's the asymmetrical warfare. No rules or laws bind Trump and people he favors, just others. No rule or law is enforced out of principle. So the very act of enforcement of a rule or a law against McCabe by Sessions, who lied to Congress with impunity, is clearly an act of aggression.
I'm not sure what to do about that, short run: I don't want to say that McCabe or the rest of us should be free of rules until Trump starts obeying them, I don't want Sessions's lies to be a justification for everyone's lies.
It seems to me that the only way to keep both the rules we need and to apply them to Trump and his people is through the ballot box, and impeachment.
8
This is why McCabe was deservedly fired and why there should be a Grand Jury Investigation
of ex-Director Comey and his seventh floor henchmen:
The FBI and DOJ employed unverified salacious allegations contained in a political opposition research document to obtain court-sanctioned wiretaps, and then leaked the contents of the wiretaps and the identities of the political opponents.
A pall hangs over Mueller and a pall hangs over the DOJ. But the darkest pall hangs over the FBI. It spans from ex Director Comey to now ex Deputy Director McCabe to General Counsel Baker. It spread to counterintelligence via Peter Strzok.
When line agents complained about the misconduct, McCabe retaliated by placing them under investigation for leaking information.
It is not "Trump's FBI scorn" but the scorn of the many citizens who are calling for a Grand Jury Probe, long overdue, of the entire matter.
3
Sure things there are many things that need to be addressed, but fake news, plus fake news, plus fake news, does not equal fact, no matter how many times it is tweeted or repeated.
Proxy war? The Republican Party of Koch taking over control of the judicial system because Mueller's investigation is now implicating members of the Party of Koch as "colluding" in obstruction of justice. Trying to keep one step ahead of the law. Too Late.
5
McCabe was fired for due cause.
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.
Laws apply to all. Including Mr. McCabe and Mr. Trump.
In other news,
Consultant For Trump Misused Facebook Data of Millions
(NYT)
This would appear to be a clear case of foreign election tampering, as there were several UK citizens in key roles in the data-mining project for the consultant Cambridge Analytica.
Government officials in the UK are investigating the firm's Brexit activities, even as Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan and friends sit on their hands. One can only hope that our allies will overturn evidence on the American side of things. We need all the help we can get.
6
It's ironic that the man who couldn't remember that he had two meetings with the Russian Ambassador when testifying before his former colleagues in the Senate and repeatedly stated that he couldn't recall much of anything, would be the man who impugned and ruined the reputation of a career law enforcement officer like Andrew McCabe.
Hasn't Donald Trump just brought out the best in everyone in Washington?
9
I would hope that Mueller's report is timed to come out this fall. If it says what we expect it say, no direct collusion, but violation of campaign finance laws, lying to FBI, and money laundering and other shady financial deals with Russians. This will make it possible for the Dems to take the House and Senate at the midterms and impeach the President.
Interesting that Trump denies collusion, but if he shared databases with a media company, who shared it with contacts, who shared it with Russians, is that collusion?
12
"Mr. Sessions said that Mr. McCabe had shown a lack of candor under oath on multiple occasions." That's rich coming from Sessions.
21
McCabe earned his pension. Why is it OK to take his away, yet, the financial wizards of 2009 who are all now advising Trump, and drove this country to the brink of collapse got to keep their golden parachute millions.
19
Shh, you are going to give away the connecting between Banksters and Russian money!
Did you know the failure of LTC was due to a Russian collapse which we controlled by permitting gambling in insurance again? CDSs blew up in our faces, but now folks are betting on stability while Trump fiddles with it.
It's hard to see any logical relation between McCabes presence or absence, and the Mueller probe, which continues. McCabe was fired for lying to the FBI, and he will probably be indicted for the same thing. The recommendation to fire was made by career agents in the Office of Professional Responsibility. McCabe's claim just gives more evidence of bias on his part. It sounds like a Dem talking point.
1
Given the nature of the tweets from Mr. Trump, I would hope Mr. McCabe will sue to get this travesty repaired. Clearly the White House was making an effort to stifle free speech, it also was putting an extraordinary amount of pressure on the AG to cause a environment where the firing occurred under duress. I think he could argue because of this pressure from the White House, the decision made was incorrect. The work environment in the FBI must be terrible, how can we expect them to do their jobs?
7
Mr. McCabe has done great damage to the perceived integrity of the FBI. Particularly for a policing and intelligence gathering agency, possessing great and invasive power, the public has the right to expect nothing less than the most upright behavior. That would include behavior that undermines the public’s perception.
Who can consider the actions of his wife in accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from Hillary’s buddy, when he then subsequently heads an investigation into Hillary’s misdeeds. Who can say this does not stink to high heaven? In the private sector, he would most likely be gone in a New York Minute. Not only should he be canned, but so should those “ethics people” who claimed no conflict. What kind of self-serving purpose is being satisfied at the once great FBI.
He should have been fired some time ago. He deserves no more of my money.
3
Before we jump to any conclusions pro or con, lets wait for the release of the DOJ IG report. Trump's tweet was totally inappropriate and in the end, the independent IG may cast doubt on the whole process.
4
The firing of McCabe at the last hour has shown the movement from collusion to conspiracy! Indict the Trump lawyers, Sessions, and Trump. Mr. Mueller: do it NOW.
19
With Trump as our President we have no democracy, He must be impeached now. McConnell and Ryan must also be owned by the Russians or they would have already started impeachment procedures.
19
Didn't Sessions lie repeatedly in his confirmation hearings?
Who is is to fire anybody?
21
Also, since McCabe is a WITNESS to the president's obstruction, Sessions violated his own recusal. He could NOT get Rosenstein to cover for him this time, so this is all over Sessions.
1
I remember vaguely a philosophy article about people living in a 2 dimensional world meeting people from a 3 dimensional world. Their conversation was about what the world is really like. Where to begin!? I feel like that is the ongoing conversation in Washington. 17 Security Department Heads say Russia corrupted the 2016 US Presidential Election and the Republicans on the House Intelligence Oversight Committee say there is nothing to look at. "Lack of candor", is that an objective finding or a subjective finding determined solely by the investigators? If the focus of the investigation was a dispute between the FBI and the DOJ, then was McCabe faulted for only giving the FBI side of the argument? The FBI IG is reputed to be of sound character and judgement, but Comey, McCabe, and Mueller have also been credited of having sound character and judgement. 45, Fox, and a majority of Washington Republicans participate in "trash talking" this trio of law enforcement officials and say nothing about 45's lies, sexual predations, and outright racists remarks and tweets.
9
You’re referring to Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions is a satirical novella by the English schoolmaster Edwin Abbott Abbott, first published in 1884 (Wikipedia).
The book is enjoying a resurgence of interest lately, even being mentioned by Seth MacFarlane on a recent episode of The Orville.
2
Great book.
Can you imagine what the Republicans would be doing right now, if Barack Obama did this? Paul Ryan would have the House Judiciary Committee dust off the Articles of Impeachment to be used against him, and Mitch McConnell would be whipping the Senate Republicans to vote for Barack Obama's conviction. Instead, what do you hear? Nothing, absolutely nothing and we won't either. The Congressional Republicans have decided that their economic agenda is more important than our democracy. The GOP has failed the critical test of leadership and they must go. For their failure, the only fitting quote comes from Ronald Reagan that the GOP, because of their mendacious behavior, will be assigned to ash heap of history.
21
"In a statement released late Friday, Mr. Sessions said that Mr. McCabe had shown a lack of candor under oath on multiple occasions."
I can't believe that's a real statement. Jeff Sessions, of all people, criticizing a lack of candor while under oath. What a joke.
20
I hope the proud working people of America, who show up, who are loyal to their employers, who give an honest day's work and work overtime when needed, who teach their children the American work ethic, have gotten the message from this billionaire Republican employer they chose for their president: You are pawns, not people. Whatever you may think of "Washington bureaucrats" and the educated "elite," Andrew McCabe is a worker like us who worked overtime for decades to get where he got to and get the pension he was promised. If he made a mistake or two, and that's a big "if", which of us in 21 years of employment hasn't? The boss who publicly humiliated him and no doubt ordered his firing has made many "mistakes" that could have and should have gotten him fired if he was an employee but there he sits in the Oval Office firing others. For American workers, this should be another "Enough is enough" moment.
16
I predict that Mueller will be all over this. And will soon have all the facts gathered!
At least we trust that.
8
I'll bet he already has them and that is why this happened - a diversion.
I hope you are right for the sake of the Republic.
"In a statement released late Friday, Mr. Sessions said that Mr. McCabe had shown a lack of candor under oath on multiple occasions." Rich.
12
When the full IG report comes out, we will see that McCabe was no babe in the woods. His statement after being fired only reinforces the reality that he was a highly political actor at the FBI. Trump didn't investigate him. Trump didn't provide the report that recommended he be fired. An independent investigator--appointed by Obama--recommended it. Yet, that is who McCabe blames. He knows what he says is not true, so yet another lie. McCabe needs to worry about the coming second Special Counsel more that Trump. He may have some free room and board coming to make up for his missed pension.
3
At first blush the firing of McCabe two days before he was set to retire stunk (and still does) considering Donald Trump's smear campaign again McCabe.
But the one troubling fact in all of this - at least for me and I have a law enforcement background - is that according to the Times reporting, senior FBI officials strongly recommended that he be terminated.
We do not have details of the Inspector General's report so we don't know the full extent of the reasons for the termination recommendation.
But either way it shakes out, Trump's tweet-touting that this is a "great day for Democracy" would be laughable if it wasn't so troubling.
9
And Stormy Daniels stands in jeopardy of $20 million for 20 disclosures about Trump? Let's start a campaign to pay her legal bills or penalties. It should be easy to find a million people to give $20 each so that she'll tell the full story about Trump's affair(s). I'd like to be the first to give $20....
11
The new race against the clock starts now and ends Nov. 6: Can Trump wrest authoritarian control of the election process and other institutions of our government before the people can take back their democracy?
10
It appears doubtful that Mr. McCabe's actions or "lack on candor" merited his expulsion less than 48 hours before he was to retire. Nor did it merit the total disregard of McCabe's many years of law enforcement service. Trump's tweet confirms that the president's need to show power and revenge as well as his desire to vilify this man's reputation. Only the future will tell us who will be vindicated in the end...
5
It’s frightening to witneas how rapidly institutions and check and balances are shattered in US. It’s especially dramatic for me — and people in countries like Romania —, where we’ve been looking up at the US democracy and perceived it as an implicit freedom insurance for our own democracy. It’s unbelievable how the vanishing moral pillar of US capitalism destroys the US institutions and, in turn, the spirit of democracy.
10
Where are the republicans? Where are the self proclaiming "defenders of democracy? Why the thundering silence? We have an additional definition for "complicit": Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan, and every single member of Congress who is a member of the republican majority.
8
the electorate cannot expect to endorse partisan rancor in its politics without infusing partisan motives into its government.
1
Looking down the road a bit - when Trump is tried and found guilty for any number of illegal activities in which he's indulged, how will his hard-core base react. It looks like Trump is preparing them for insurrection.
You might recall that prior to the 2016 election, given that he expected to lose, Trump was pounding the drums of a "fixed election". And there was concern that such behavior could undermine the people's acceptance of the election results. And that given the highly charged emotions of his supporters, there was fear of some sort of armed clashes. Well, he's doing the same thing now, in preemptively undermining the public's acceptance of the results of Mueller's investigation. In effect, Trump is saying "if I go down, I'm taking the country with me!"
10
Regardless of any issues involving the legitimacy of the McCabe firing, does anyone seriously believe that the decision to get rid of McCabe came from anywhere other than Trump?
8
The biggest mistake those who find Trump et al guilty is to just be happy he agrees to walk off into the sunset. The genesis of the prevailing attitude of too big or too rich or too important to jail, began when Ford pardoned Nixon.
Let him walk like Nixon, which I believe is what he has counted on all along, and it will be at our collective peril. We will then have a history of allowing two our presidents to operate with impunity - an open invitation for another and possibly worse (if that's even possible) to assume there will be no price to pay when he thwarts the rule of law.
Lock him up!
5
First he came for Acting Attorney General Sally Yates, and elected Republicans said nothing. Then he came for US Attorney Preet Bharara and elected Republicans said nothing. Then he came for FBI Director James Comey, and still, elected Republicans said nothing. Now he’s come for former Acting FBI Director Andy McCabe, and again, elected Republicans will say nothing.
It is not just Donald Trump who is destroying our country, it is also some of the very people elected and sworn to defend our country who are standing beside him and simply looking away. And they are Republicans.
8
If only HRC had been elected, McCabe might have been in ‘fat city.’. Had he behaved with total ‘candor,’ he could have pursued his FBI career without question, regardless of HRC’s fortunes. He made a choice; it turned out to have been the wrong path. As my mother frequently said, ‘Do right and fear not’.
LennieA: Your mother was right in saying "Do right," but not in saying "fear not." It seems that so often the people who "do right" are punished and/or vilified, and the most outrageously evil, felonious, thieving, corrupt, dishonest con artists, and human trash are rewarded, and allowed to walk free. What happens to people of honor like Sally Yates, Preet Bharara, James Comey? FIRED. What happens to people who have NO HONOR, like trump, ryan, mcconnell? They continue to wield tremendous power. But one should always do right, have honor, integrity, and compassion...no matter what. The world, sadly, will continue to be unfair whenever evil triumphs over good. And as the old saying goes (Sort of): The only thing it takes for evil to triumph over good is for good men to do nothing about evil. So we see good men, like Mueller, trying to triumph over evil, and bad men like trump and the republicans trying to stop Mueller. The world will ALWAYS be like this. At this point in history, though, we are dealing with an incredibly overwhelming, elaborate, convoluted, stinking hot mess of republican-fueled EVIL. trump and The GOP crime syndicate...
1
I really want to see what they claimed he was not forthcoming about. In spite of President Trumps often puerile behavior I doubt that the DoJ and FBI were swayed by his temper tantrums. Sessions has set a good example by recusing himself from Mueller's investigation so I'm sure the decision makers were fair.
1
I have never openly criticized Trump before because it is a matter to me of trying to live the 8 Beatitudes, but this firing, 2 days before a man's retirement, is cruel beyond words. I am grieving for a world we have lost, a world which I fear we will never reclaim. Somehow it seems we are teaching the young and, indeed, the whole world, that it is "cool" to be cruel. May God forgive us.
9
Andy McCabe like the handful of other FBI hierarchy that the Director confided his experiences with Mr. Trump's obstruction of the Russian investigation was wrongfully dismissed, at the whim of a president struggling with mental health issues.
The acting attorney general, Sally Yates and later FBI director Comey were also publicly humiliated by a markedly inappropriate individual, in order to delay and obstruct any discussions of the Russian Military Intelligence operation to remove the leading presidential candidate from the White House.
The republican dominated Congress has categorically failed to lift a finger to protect America from this unspeakable tragedy.
5
I couldn't help but think Trump will never be able to release a statement similar to the statement McCabe released last night. He's not honorable. He hasn't served his country with distinction. And his colleagues will not stand by him and praise his job performance when he leaves office. I was in DC last week and I drove by the Lincoln Monument and the Washington Monument and the WWII Monument to our fallen soldiers. It made me sadder than I can say knowing what Trump has done to this country (with a nod and a great share of the blame/credit going to Paul Ryan). They'll build no monuments to this President - not in DC. Maybe a hotel or a tower in Moscow, but not here in the US. Thank you for your years of service, Mr. McCabe.
197
Dear Ulysses,
Thank you for saying what many of us are feeling today and every day with heavy hearts and a deep sense of foreboding and anxiety. What Trump and Sessions have done is despicable and cruel. I add my gratitude to Andrew McCabe for his dedication and service to our country as a public servant and law enforcer.
5
There aren't going to be any monuments to Obama. He having trouble with the neighbors of his Presidential Library site in Chicago, who are protesting unless he pays them. Their position seems to be that since their prosperity declined under the Obama administration, they're lookin for payback.
Absolutely correct; Ray Sipe
How long before hostile witnesses and porn stars begin showing signs of weapons-grade nerve agent poisoning, dropping dead just days before they are to testify? If only we could administer justice like our role model Bad Vlad.
58
Somebody, please launch a gofundme campaign to reimburse Andrew McCabe, former FBI deputy director, for his pension stripped away by the malevolent Donald Trump. I will contribute.
118
His book deal should balance this scale. I will buy a copy just to show my support. Good gads, I'm gonna fund a Republican?
1
I will contribute $100. Let me know where.
Buy his book and send every friend one for Christmas!
1
We are all witnessing the evolution of this nation into a dictatorship.
174
Evolution? More like decline. But point well taken.
1
Agreed, Robert. Decline is a far more accurate word choice.
I hope to live to see the day when Trump, Sessions, Nunes, Ryan and Trump’s whole Russian loving cabal Are gone forever. Each night I pray for their end and their arrest. They are the worst people living —a match for Putin anytime —and the nasty manipulative Republican Congress is not much better.
157
Yes! And please don't forget Mitch McConnell, a most despicable man who hijacked our Constitution and denied the citizens of this country a legitimate Supreme Court justice. Prison for them all.
The worst GOP President in USA history and we all heard this saying. You do the lifestyle you suffer the consequences. If Mr Trump gets away with the abuse of women polluting our planet and corrupt business deals with Russia then we are really in trouble. How his supporters stand by those bullies and failed policies is truly sick. I was glad a Democrat won in Pennsylvania and look forwarding to November when congress and the senate turn Democrat. I hope and pray Trump does not get to send the nuclear missiles toward North Korea. The south Koreans will loose everything.
74
Unfortunately you don't educate yourself and understand what is happening - its called much needed change. Also why is he the worst GOP president? I thought democrats labeled GW Bush that....
Such a despicable and vengeful act by a cowardly and morally corrupt man and his flunky AG.
148
Why? Career officials decided he should go - not Sessions. Get your facts straight. I guess Americans are ok with certain people whom have same political persuasion of doing anything unethical or criminal for the sake of the cause. He messed up. Get over it.
The witness listing for Mueller grows daily after another deepthroat is out of the box and the person who fired him, Mr. Sessions is next in line to be dismissed for his sin of not protecting a Russia agent in the WH.
64
Send Facebook the bill for allowing our Country to be trashed and destroyed.
69
https://www.theguardian.com/news/2017/nov/05/russia-funded-facebook-twit...
Russia funded both Twitter and Facebook. The Russians paid Zuckerberg many fold what Mircosoft valued those shares at, and the Russains wanted NOTHING for the favor? Not even a seat on the board? I see how he sold US down the river.
Trump has successfully managed to brainwash 60 million Americans into thinking our federal institutions are corrupt and our media is dishonest. If he left office tomorrow the damage is irreparable. All the liberal marches, drum circles, #Hashtag campaigns and poetry slams in the world can't save us now.
58
thank you, this was certainly presaged by the advent of reality TV and by the voracious appetite of the american public for it.
the romans of the late empire had nothing on us. i fear that soon we will be mourning the obama years as a failed experiment in democracy, not dissimilar to our current wistful view of the weimar republic.
trump is no accident and we deserve it. but the worst is yet to come and may be in the person of the much slicker mr. clean, mike pence.
3
Aaron: I don’t think Trump deserves the credit for a narrative the Republicans have been pushing for decades. It is the natural outgrowth of the sentiment that the government is not out to solve the country’s problems, it is the problem. Or, as Reagan famously said "the nine scariest words in the English language are 'I’m from the government and I’m here to help.'" Now we are reaping what they have sown.
2
Really? They are all upstanding citizens who can do no wrong... What is worst, the lie or the cover-up of a lie? Covering up corruption is wrong and many of our institutions have it and its time they become accountable to the people. Honor and dignity, standing up to bastions of corruption will make these institutions stronger and more respected.
Sessions talks about lack of candor??!! You mean the same Jeff Sessions that perjured himself during confirmation hearings?? Go figure.
156
I am not sure why this article does not include McCabe's full statement, but I think the New York Times should have included it (they only included partial comments that do not reflect McCabe's version of his firing.) Also, to choose the title of fired over candor issues is misleading. We have not seen the memo or the FBI internal report. We know why he was fired 2 days before his retirement and at 10 PM on a Friday. It is the same way others have been fired, such as Comey, who was fired over Twitter. How vindictive! It speaks volumes about this administration, no words are needed, it is out there for all of us to see. Another sad day for America!
93
Jeff Sessions firing someone for "lack of candor under oath"!!! Now that's rich.
123
Jeff Sessions is a sadist! I can't wait until it's his turn.
70
Session was just a useful tool, this is Trump's evil and sadistic doing.
In the old days when you threatened someone, you did it in a whisper, in private. It will really help McCabe’s lawsuit that Trump does his intimidating on Twitter. Nice retirement benefits you got there, it would be a shame if something happened to them.
“FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe is racing the clock to retire with full benefits. 90 days to go?!!!”
39
This is a dastardly trick against McCabe, who doesn't deserve this treatment of losing livelihood and pension. May he soon get justice. Meantime, Sessions should be disbarred and Trump should be dumped in the nearest trash bin along with the garbage that spews from his mouth. The gall of these so-called representatives is off the charts.
83
Trump and his band of sycophants know that the worm is turning - expect even more chaotic obfuscation before their déluge.
47
Mr. McCabe,
As a former retired Fed, thank you for your service.
Knowing how the government works, I am 100% sure you were set up. I am disgusted Trump & Sessions treated you this way. I am so sorry you were fired and can imagine the pain you are going through. Keep your chin up! I am confident in your service you acted with respect, dignity and honesty in your position while Sessions & Trump do not. What Sessions & Trump did to you was immoral & unjust- please don't let them get away with this. If you are eligible to appeal to MSPB I hope you do.
Please pursue this even though it will cost you financially and emotionally. I am positive you will have a lot of lawyers who would love to help you with this case. You need to stand up and prove to the country that Trump was wrong- hit him where it hurts & go after him legally. Write a book telling as much as you can- I know it would be a bestseller.
We cannot allow an injustice like this to go on in our country. Trump needs to go- he is a disgrace to our country. I used to hope Trump did well for the sake of our country but seeing the damage he is inflicting, I hope the Russia probe can nail him and expose his lies and deceits. He is not uphold the dignity and respect that is expected of the office.
Please everyone - vote in November - the fate of our country depends on it.
If you can write a book that would be
167
Please for the sake of truth, understand career officials at the FBI, DOJ recommended his firing. Just because Trump and Sessions were for it doesn't mean Mr McCabe didn't commit unethical acts.
Extremely well said and exactly what I think. I hope McCabe is able to receive his pension. A vengeful and contemptible act by discraceful actors !
Thank you I appreciate it. But Mr. McCabe is to be thanked more for standing up to what he believed in & paying the ultimate price of being wrongly terminated. Thank you M. McCabe.
1
The firing of McCabe is clearly meant to discredit him as a witness in the SP's probe into Trump, Inc. Sessions is an obsequious weasel and Trump is unfit and dangerous. The Republicans will pay a severe price for their support of this President in 2018 and 2020. Vote people vote!!!!!
73
Yet more evidence of the tribal, thuggish, low-life quality of this administration.
For what It's Worth
There's something happening here
What it is ain't exactly clear
There's a man with a gun over there
Telling me I got to beware
There's battle lines being drawn
What a field-day for the heat
Everybody look what's going down
Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you're always afraid
You step out of line, the man come and take you away
Everybody look what's going down
64
Fun fact: Watergate's "deep throat" held McCabe's exact position in the FBI during the Nixon investigation.
52
I'm no psychiatrist, but don't the actions of the last week or two in the White House reek of a serious case of paranoia? Get rid of all the "schemers" around you and only have people you can "trust?"
In my household, such paranoia was one of the first serious, detectable signs of dementia.
51
Just wait to see what this POTUS does to your Social Security, enjoy this GOP oldsters.
52
This is a first a respected 20 yr veteran of the FBI ordered fired by a man who has been laundering money for the Russians for the past couple of decades.
71
Get over it. Read the facts. Career officials recommended his firing. People are reading into this too much. The guy was unethical.
And now we know why!
Trump is so stupid, he believes we will believe anything he says. Only Trumpists do that.
“The F.B.I. expects every employee to adhere to the highest standards of honesty, integrity and accountability,” - too bad those are way too high standards for the potus and his enablers
34
Long time ago we had Ivan the Terrible, Catherine the Great, Edward the confessor NOW we have Donald the Vindicative. If you get on this guy's wrong side, you better look out.
Why Donald are you filing a 20 million dollar lawsuit. I think he doth protest too much...
31
FBI honcho fired for lying to his agency’s OPR about orchestrating a press leak to counter his press leaks.
But in the Echo Chamber in which 2/3 of America’s GDP reside, he’s a hero.
Deplorable!
10
Not that you'll care, and I've given up expecting Trumpists to care about facts in the least, but the specific charge isn't that he lied.
Look it up--oh, wait, you guys don't do that, either.
Trump shows lack of candor (honesty, truthfulness) at least 10 times a day, and yet he remains POTUS. Disgusting.
33
Thank god, next and soon ,Rosenstein and Mueller ,disassemble this corrupt agency and counsel.
6
The bombshell revelation of Cambridge Analytica's illegal use of harvested Facebook data should help close the loop on Trump's campaign's illegal methods that they knowingly engaged in and supported. Mercer, Bannon, and Nix knowingly conspired to use illegal harvested Facebook information to craft personalized messages. The Russians were apparently doing the same. What a coincidence.
27
So now that we know the ceo of technology were all in this active destruction of America boycott them by getting off of their platforms.
USE the old fasjoined mail system and protect your privacy .Don't give it to anti Americans and swamp king.
Vote and be aware.
In firing Mr. McCabe, Attorney General Sessions did the only thing he could do. Given the President's criticism and his call for Mr. McCabe to be stripped of his pension, Mr. Sessions had no choice but to follow the recommendations of the Inspector General and Veteran FBI agents. Had he shown taken into account Mr. McCabe's exemplary years of service or shown compassion, Mr. Sessions would have suffered the unrelenting criticism of the President. Mr. Sessions would not have had the President's back and probably been fired himself.
While I agree that Mr. McCabe will probably not suffer financially, having one's reputation sullied is difficult to live with. I hope that he has recourse through the courts.
10
Sessions could have resigned, retaining at least a little bit of honor.
Once he's no longer of use to POTUS, he'll be just another goner.
1
"lack of candor"??
I hope McCabe sues the FBI Inspector General and Sessions and the investigators are put under oath to make sure they don't "lack candor".
How is it that McCabe did the same thing twice -- once under orders from Christopher Wray -- and neither was illegal, but somehow the IG decides that he was not "candid" in one of the instances in which he had nothing to cover up since there was no impropriety committed? If there is an e-mail trail or trail of phone calls in which he has offered to clarify misunderstandings over and over again and the IG still claim McCabe was not "candid", then the IG should be investigated and put under oath to see how "candid" he is.
36
McCabe would be facing criminal charges if he was a Trump campaign staffer interviewed by Mueller. And the commenters would be cheering.
7
Mueller is investigating people to get them to talk, this firing was to discourage
people from talking. There is a substantial difference.
The inspector general and the FBI’s Office of Professional Responsibility made the call. Sessions followed the recommendation.
Lack of candor? Where does the president of the United States of America refusing to release his tax returns fit in that category?
52
It's wonderfully amusing, as usual, to see the Times attempt to downplay the McCabe firing and try to come up with a spin which fits the anti-Trump agenda. Hopefully he will also be criminally indicted as many legal experts and ex-FBI officials have stated for lying to both the FBI internal affairs and the congressional committee last summer. And he's not the only pro-Clinton plant in the FBI and DOJ who may face criminal charges. That entire nest of officials working to bring down Trump need to be canned and also indicted. All in all, a great day, draining The Swamp one rat at a time.
11
Seriously - "draining The Swamp one rat at a time"? Trump has been splashing around in the swamp he created for over a year now and the biggest rat is the Donald himself. Half of his so-called 'team' has left or is being prosecuted! He himself chose or confirmed the appointments of ALL OF THEM!! No where else to lay the blame but the Donald!
Yeah, right. Listen to yourself, Jacob.
"pro-Clinton plant in the FBI "
Sure, 21 YEARS AGO, somebody put him up to joining te FBI and serving faithfully, so that 19 or 20 years later he could be a "shill" for a candidate he "knew" would be running at that time.
Makes PERFECT sense.
Just like all the other foolishness that conservatives spew.
Wouldn’t it be wonderfully amusing to see Donald Trump’s tax returns?
More than a few agents will want payback for that.
15
I think this firing is petty and vindictive.
Just a thought that came to me listening to NPR this morning. What I heard brought to my mind the 1980's under reagan when the GOP in Congress systematically shut down a lot of programs they did not want without ever discussing them in public or even raising the topic of shutting them down so no one knew they were targets. What they did was to simply not fund them. By the time people at the agencies were able to get Press attention it was too late.
I am under the impression that El Trumpo's empty government with chaos and constant upheaval and thousands of unfilled posts is the GOP's way of destroying our international programs and pulling out of the positions of responsibility we have without ever bringing up the topic or discussing it.
GOP the party of treason and cowardice bringing you government by deception 3.0.
45
IG is Obama appointed, long Democrat. He is the one that recommended firing of McCabe not the Republicans, not Sessions and not the president.
The Koch's and their friends want to hollow out the government so it has no teeth when they are polluting and ignoring labor laws, or any laws for that matter. They are a terrorist organization bent on destroying the country from within. They are a far greater danger to democracy than ISIL could ever dream of being. Putin really likes them.
Yes, 26 and counting. Let's see if Trump can reach the century mark before the end of the year.
4
Just when you think it can't get any worse (firing the Secretary of State via twitter), the Trump administration does this and the Republican leadership remains silent.
39
Candor... "The quality of being open and honest in expression; frankness."
The definition includes the words; truthfulness, sincerity frankness and forthrightness.
DJT is the KING of a" lack of candor" and will be sorry that he is trying to smear a long term dedicated FBI employee. in this way. Sounds like a case of the "pot calling the kettle black"
16
Of all the dishonorable things this regime has perpetrated on our ideals, the vindictiveness- the punishment of its phantom enemies (anyone who disagrees)-- is most painful , especially when it is echoed and amplified by the twit in chief and the entertainers at fox news. The price of maintaining freedom is to study history and literature, while this culture is distracted by so much trivia. We may have to read it aloud to most of America, but we need to revisit Orwell for starters.
19
Look for the soon to be released film, "McCabe and Mr Mueller."
20
Sessions condemned McCabe for not adhering to "the highest standards of honesty" after he himself lied repeatedly to congressional committees?
47
The Republican executive branch’s war on the law enforcement branch of government has got to end. The hypocrisy is on full display. Republicans also ignore police when they ask for sensible gun regulation.
Remember when Republicans said Obama was attacking law enforcement all the time? (And with Obama’s heavy handed DOJ reports on police that included no data on disparate crime rates, they would have a point.) This is naked self-interest by the Trump administration.
9
And and just recently in a separate tweet Trump condemned the FBIs IG as an Obama holdover. Clearly, that rises to the level of Intimidation and add to the obstruction of justice case that the firing was intended to neutralize a key witness. Like so much else in this WH like the lies about Tillerson’s firing, the other shoe may drop that the OIG Internal Report actually exonerates McCabe. It must be release to the public.
19
Many of us are placing all of our hope in Mueller and the mid-term elections, after which the Democrats would hopefully have the will to impeach. But ask yourself why the Republicans do not have the will to impeach. Our democracy and our safety is in grave danger; they have to be aware of this. Their refusal to act is clearly the problem. Is it time for the people to confront those Republicans who are allowing this? Is it time to demand answers, publicly embarrass them? Maybe shut down their offices with protests? Shut down all of DC with protests? I don't think we are going to make it to the mid-terms, and if we do it will be moot. He is now surrounding himself with loyalists-don't confuse this with “chaos in the White House”. He is taking steps to ensure the he can fire Mueller, and the 2020 election serves no purpose- just as elections in Russia serve no purpose. The danger is very real and he is clearly arranging to be President long after any election. We are headed for a dictatorship, nuclear power plant attacks, and probably nuclear war. If this is not the time to rise up, then when is? With a 35% percent approval rating the majority of Americans do not approve. It's time to stop posting online and start demanding that our representatives work for us-NOT HIM.
46
Yes, we must take to the streets and all other forms of communication that we will not tolerate any of this one more minute. Use the right-wing tactics against them - every plutocrat like the Koch brothers and Mercer, Republican leaders in Congress, Trump, Pence and the Cabinet, all of their families - none of them should have a day of peace until this Administration is thrown into the dust bin of history. The time to act is now before it's too late!
And pray that Mueller and his team have the best security available.
2
The Republicans have no desire to impeach Trump for the same reason the Democrats did not vote to convict Clinton, despite his multiple criminal violations. They generally like the bills he is signing into law and his executive actions he is taking to reverse the dictatorial autocratic actions of his predecessor.
The same reason Democrats did not impeach Obama, despite his multiple unconstitutional and illegal acts.
The problem with Trump is that he hasn't even broken any laws, which would likely prevent even a Democrat House from impeaching.
I believe the reason why the GOP is loath to take on Trump is because Manafort dirtied the entire party with Russian money at their convention. They are implicated in this collusion, and thus are defending their own hides.
2
McCabe was fired by his own office personnel and on the recommendation of the non-partisan Inspector General. James Comey is the lead "dirty copy" in the FBI, followed by McCabe, Strzok, Page and others. This handful of FBI professionals let bias overrule their good judgement and cast a dark and ugly shadow on one of the most important departments of our government. They, like every other U.S. citizen, are not "above the law." James Comey will now embark on a nation-wide book tour trying to save and explain himself ala Hillary Clinton. Can't they all just go away!
12
And what, exactly, did these FBI agents do that was so awful to the interests of Trump? Do I have to remind you that Trump "won" the election? There is no wrong if there's no injury.
But Trump and Sessions are above the law, right? Got it.
(agree, and would add that the IG is an OBAMA appointee and that there had been some published reports of McCabe altering Peter Strzok's 302 Form after Comey reportedly found no intentional lie on the part of M. Flynn. There is so much more that we may never know...
1
The message this sends to all our service agencies is that our President must be served above the needs of our country at great personal cost to those who think otherwise. Either get on board that train or be left at the station to wither and die by your lonesome. This line of thinking goes counter to what people who went into national service had in mind. If in service they have morphed into disillusion they might get on board. But if they have stayed idealistic, they won't have it.
10
The F.B.I. say they treated it in normal fashion so I’ll have to see the report if employment law allows its release. It would smell better if POTUS had kept his mouth shut, but that is apparently too much to hope for.
The next opportunity for a great day for democracy is November 6. Be there or be square.
15
I hope McCabe files a defamation suit against S.Huck-Sanders for calling him a "bad actor." And I hope he sings like a canary as a witness for Mueller.
41
I think outrage is the right emotion, and that the more it is and the more sustained it is, it is all to the good. In the meantime, I cannot but help asking about a high level official in the FBI, an organization that has too often served those in power (e.g. COINTELPRO) despite what effect it has had on the American people, is there poetic justice here too? As Wolsey said when he was "fired" by King Henry VIII:
"Had I but served my God with half the zeal
I served my king, he would not in mine age
Have left me naked to mine enemies!"
One could replace Shakespeare's use of the word "God" for Cardinal Wolsey with the word "truth" for an official charged with getting at the truth.
And as we are outraged, do we also want to be even more rightly outraged by how much pensions are being stolen by rapacious profiteers, the foot soldiers of our profit driven economic system? "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Martin Luther King
15
Donald Trump and the FBI experience:
Gets rid of Comey even though he about helped Trump win the election by questioning the Weiner emails.
Gets rid of McCabe a day before he could leave with a 21 year accumulation of pension benefits.
Is up against Robert Mueller who served the FBI, but also was a brave Vietnam Marine, unlike the Donald with bone spurs.
Maybe he would have just been better off to leave the FBI well enough alone, because the FBI just might not be done with Donald Trump. He’s ticked off a lot of hard workers/staff over there......
28
Before the election, the FBI was all for Trump. They are loyal Republicans, for the most part. Now? I am afraid the GOP may have lost their votes.