It is clear that there never was a case against Mr. McCabe and it was trumped up by the vindictive efforts of trump himself to inflict pain and pressure
on someone who was doing his job at the FBI honestly. That trump had sessions do his dirty work and fire Mr. McCabe hours before he was
to retire with a vested pension was obvious to all that this was also to satisfy trump's cruel and immoral nature.
Not only should Mr. McCabe be given his pension, with interest, back to the day he retired. He also should sue trump personally and the FBI collectively
for defamation of character, libelous and false statements against Mr. and Mrs. McCabe and ask for actual and punitive damages and to have all his
legal fees paid by this corrupt and vile president and administration.
Justice must be done and Mr. McCabe and his family made whole emotionally and financially.
Please write an editorial about the mistreatment of Mr. McCabe by trump, sessions and barr (none of them deserve capitalization of their names - they
are lowlife).
17
Adam Goldman says: “It also appears to be a sign that Attorney General William P. Barr wants to show that the Justice Department is independent from the president”. Dropping a specious unwinnable case demonstrates “independence” from Trump??
Well, I guess application of any sort of basic common sense or prudence demonstrates independence from Trump. Maybe next we will see independence expressed in adopting facts about climate change??
5
I wonder why Barr did not tell the Trump directly his concerns. My conclusion is that he really does not have any concerns, but just wants to confuse everyone.
Barr wears a nice green hunters jacket in some of his interviews similar to one that Clark Gable might have worn. Barr is having the time of his life in the spotlight as is Rudy. I wish it was not at our expense.
8
Loss of his pension. Two years under investigation. Public excoriation by the President of the United States. Even without an indictment, President Trump* still managed to exact a pretty steep punishment for McCabe's perceived effrontery. The message to others is clear: Snitches get stitches.
9
McCabe's lawyers' fees also need to be paid back. His pension needs to be given to him. He definitely earned it. He's a hero in my book.
12
Trump conspiracy theories and investigations that followed: Voter suppression investigation, headed by Kobach - nothing found, disbanded; Hillary Clinton criminal activity - nothing found, ended; Andrew McCabe - no criminal indictment, ended, push to charge James Comey for his memos, ended. 0 for 4. Problem is that matter how many of these investigations Barr takes up, none of it will settle the matter for Trump. He will come up with new accusations (now it's the Bidens and Russia investigators, Stone trial), or keep recycling the old ones. The only way to stop this is to refuse to do any investigations, but that would get an Attorney General the Jeff Sessions treatment. So we go round and round with endless investigations meant to confuse voters and damage people who stand up to Trump. McCarthyism on steroids. Trump has got to go, but it is so disheartening to watch Democratic infighting and purity tests, which will only make his reelection chances stronger.
11
Thank you for your public service Mr. McCabe, and I’m very sorry for what this nightmare in the White House has put you and your family through.
Vote Blue in 2020. Let’s all wake up from the bad dream.
10
American Hero, Andrew G. McCabe.
so apparently trumps minions had nothing on him...
an innocent man harassed and pestered for two years ...
it stinks on so many levels and the rots coming from the oval office.
23
Rubbish. It is absolutely proven, actually admitted, that he lied under oath multiple times. The IG Report documents it. Barr simply decided for whatever reason not to prosecute.....this time. After all, Clinton admitted to perjury, but the Senate decided not to convict.
Plz tell me why McCabe’s lies are less serious then Stone’s. Or Flynn’s. Or Papadopoulos’.
6
They keep investigating and finding nothing of worth. Its Benghazi all over again. You want the truth... you can't handle the truth, Mr. Trump
13
Wrong. They found it. But the deep state protects its own from prosecution, even when guilty as sin.
4
Seriously, Ted. What could you possibly know? The people who actually have access to the facts and who actually know what they are doing found no reason to charge McCabe. Meanwhile, the vindictive and consistently untruthful President Trump attacked McCabe, initially for being married to a Democrat candidate and then for being in charge when the FBI tracked down over a hundred contacts with Russians and and a dozen instructions of justice.
27
Given Trump's strategy as outlined here and that DOJ is allowing rudy to provide them with info for the Biden investigation which probably has cost "someone" a lot of money, it will be interesting to see if this Bidens investigation is pursued, if Biden withdraws his campaign or someone else, like Bloomberg, gets the nod.
Then Joe Biden has become a false flag. It would be delicious. Hanging the DOJ out to dry.
1
McCabe is a CNN commentator. Interesting place for an allegedly impartial and highly placed former intelligence official.
4
Cable news is packed with ex-officials of many backgrounds. Bolton, Huckabee’s, Napalotano, Rudy, and the list goes on and on. Explain to anyone how this is different.
3
Now give him back the pension that was wrongfully seized from him.
22
Not the president but Justice Department inspector general, Michael E. Horowitz found Mr. McCabe mislead investigators. But he's off the hook so Attorney General William P. Barr can show that the Justice Department is independent from the president? Of course he is already cashing out at CNN, joining the cheerleading for Bloomberg and Buttigeig, while Roger Stone should go to jail forever for lying about nothing.
2
Looks like DJT will be looking for yet another Atty Genl soon.
1
Another scam by Barr...just mocking the justice process & Department. The more they pull this in this Administration the more resolute people will become to rid the US of their cancer.
1
Can we please be fair and say "No evidence to prosecute" this former public servant who was badly treated by thr Bully-in-Chief? His reputation has been sullied enough and the title of this article should make that clear. Shame.
10
So, to be clear: McCabe will not be charged with something he didn't do to provide proof that Bill Barr is his own man?
12
Trump's longtime need for vengeance will soon if American voters do their due diligence and vote a corrupt, arrogant, narcissistic man out of office, do a full 360degree turn where he Trump who cannot escape the historical mention of being IMPEACHED will forever be regarded as the most despised and disgraced President of all times, in his warped mind he seems to think this is an honor, however, in contrast, once Mr. McCabe is able to regain his integrity after being so maligned by this jealous, small little man then history will view him favorably and see the injustice perpetrated by a President. Mr. & Mrs. McCabe have gone thru much personal hardship just to feed an ego, and to make certain media starting with Hannity, Piro, Watters, Ingraham, Carlson feel empowered when they mostly spew divisiveness and untruths. If someone was looking for a role model in order to aspire to a lifestyle and dignified career then one should look at Mr. McCabe and see how, during this ordeal, he has comported himself with dignity, respect, and humility, when can you say the same about Trump, Barr, McConnell and the rest of the enablers.
10
Every time I hear McCabe's name, I recall that he was fired just a day or two before he qualified for his pension.
That says more about those who fired him than it does about Mr. McCabe.
This administration teaches me daily to value kindness, those who show respect for one another, and the theme common to all faith traditions: "Love your neighbor as yourself, no exceptions."
11
Oh, I’ve got exceptions. People, like Trump, who do consistently bad things. Sorry, the answer to bullies is to stand up to them.
5
Grand Jury wouldn’t indicate. Barr’s probably been sitting on it and waiting for a good opportunity to showcase his “independent” justice.
The Psy Ops continue against the American People by its own elected officials and administration. SMH
2
More gaslighting and distorting truths.
3
Can McCabe now sue Barr?
2
As a private individual, Trump routinely used the legal system to bully people into submission, or inflict as much pain as possible before finally settling for pennies on the dollar. It comes as no surprise, therefore, that Trump, as the occupier of the Oval Office, believes that the entirety of the judiciary is his to direct as he chooses. Having decided that McCabe was insufficiently loyal to him personally, Trump set out to make his life miserable, and enlisted the Justice Department in his vendetta.
While some may see in Barr's action signs of independence from Trump, the fact is that the case was extremely weak -- something Barr understands, even if Trump refuses to acknowledge reality. I have no doubt that McCabe will eventually win his wrongful termination suit and receive the full pension benefits he deserves. When that day comes, the ever vindictive Trump will have to satisfy himself with the knowledge that McCabe's legal bills have taken a significant toll, while this persecution has cost Trump absolutely nothing.
Once again this vile, vindictive twitterer-in-chief reminds us that November cannot come soon enough.
11
In January 2021 when a Democrat is inaugurated president and this horror ends, Andrew McCabe should be appointed to some federal post for enough time to get his well-deserved pension.
7
Great idea!
1
Good luck for McCabe. The AG needed to show independence and McCabe beats the rap.
1
@William McCain
If that is the best, you can comprehend the cases of Roger Stone, infamous Trump's accomplice in multiple criminal actions, and of Andrew McCabe, who became the target of Trump because of leaks from the FBI investigation into Trump’s ties to Russia, then I doubt anyone can reason with you.
2
McCabe, Comey et al will get their revenge when Trump leaves office and lands behind bars. Until then they'd better watch their backs.
2
McCabe is a straight arrow unlike our bent POTUS. Time to restore his retirement and maybe a medal or two for integrity.
6
Great news, but could someone please give Mr. McCabe his retirement back that he was just a few hours from being invested in after a particularly vindictive order from the Justice Department?
I believe that someone ( Trump, no doubt) went to a lot of trouble to fire him on the weekend before he earned his last 8 hours. Surely he did not deserve such nastiness for allowing his wife to run as a Democrat and to receive some fairly large donations from friends of the Clinton.
Moves like that one give Trump and his minions the appearance of being as cruel as Al Queda.
5
Months ago, a grand jury refused to indict Mr. McCabe.
Why did this take so long?
Is anybody surprised by the news?
When will this criminal activity be stopped?
7
I hope McCabe get his pension and more. He should not have been put through this nightmare by the Federal Government.
6
This President has brought shame to himself and to whatever one considers his family, I see too many
"mulligans" handed to Melania, make no mistake, she has leverage but refuses to use it, I guess status and money mean more to her than dignity and pride, for a woman who projects herself as the light of motherhood she certainly is a failure, to be first-lady is to be the mother of the country like it or not, therefore, her job is to control a most destructive behavior, unfortunately, her husband's, regardless of his multiple infidelities she had options and continues to stand with him and against decency. Both Mr. and Mrs. McCabe seem to have performed the duties which they held with more integrity then this corrupt President and that has brought nothing more than jealousy to Trump and his ego his vengeful nature cannot tolerate nor accept the fact that Mr. McCabe will be looked upon by history as a man unjustly targetted by a vile corrupt administration and in the end what Americans will see is Mr.McCabe regaining the integrity he always had, while Trump will always forever be associated with the term IMPEACHED, and should this behavior continue he may be the first double impeached President, but though he laughs at this, after all, let's face it he is old, out of shape, using too much tint and hair spray, his chances of early demise is strong so truly his love and admiration for his family is nothing more than an act or he would do his best( I know let's laugh) to change
1
Good, I'm happy for McCabe and his family. I hope he has some recourse now to have his pension reinstated. After reading his book, I was inclined to believe he'd been mistreated. This article reinforces that.
2
The United States will look back on
our present situation with Donald Trump
in the same manner in which we view
Joseph McCarthy. An abuse of power.
We are living through unfathomable
abuses that have been “normalized”. At
some point Trump will cross a line and
he will be condemned. I must believe
that his behavior will be viewed as traitorous
to Democracy and the better values of the
American people. Historians will be tasked
to understand and explain the aberrant turn
in these unsettled times.
4
They will probably charge McCabe with a slew of charges once things get going.
2
This is good news for Mr. McCabe, and his pension should be ensured and restored.
Mr. Barr, on the other hand, can go fly a kite. It’s far too little and far too late. Barr, at long last we see, has no sense of decency left. He is the worst sort of authoritarian tool; he subverts justice and the rule of law in service to his master, gleefully watching the American experiment fail.
2
So Barr let McCabe go.. is this a quid pro quo for Flynn then? What a pathetic transparent bunch of very evil people are running this country
4
No, “fair and balanced” /s.
"It also appears to be a sign that Attorney General William P. Barr wants to show that the Justice Department is independent from Mr. Trump"
Adam, stop being a fool.
5
This is the right hand — See?! We’re fair! No charges for McCabe! while the left hand is holding Stone and Flynn (and possibly Manafort) to hide Trump’s Russia links.
8
Let's all lie, you can get away with it.
6
@ST Of course, you are correct.
1
It would be appropriate for a gov't agency to place McCabe on the gov't rolls for a day or so which would qualify him for his pension. Just keep it low key so t is not aware of it.
12
Hopefully when we get a real president in a few months McCabe's pension will be restored. "Some see as vindictive". What else would it be? So typical of this so called "administration".
11
"Dear Trumpy, please remember that dictators try to act like not-dictators, so please to have some of your people at least appear to oppose you. This gives big impression that opposition in the governmenting thing is real. With no appearance of opposition, is no appearance of democracy (ha ha). So please to make underlings appear to oppose you."
Sincerioustly, Bestest Friend Forever,
Vlad
11
If McCabe’s pension has not been restored then it is long past time. More shame on Trump and his disgraceful flunkies for their vindictive attack on the honorable public servant.
9
It all comes down to this:
The House needs to subpoena Barr and jail him when he fails to appear . Without enforcement, the House’s foundation rests on quicksand.
Stand and deliver! Now is the time.
8
We are starting to see what Barr meant when he said that political pressures are making it impossible for him to do his job. He meant: "it is not my job as attorney general to pick winners and losers in political disputes between the left and right, and if you put me in that position, everybody is gonna walk."
So Barr may just throwing out politically sensitive convictions on both sides of the divide: reducing Roger Stone's sentence, re-opening Michael Flynn's case for an independent body to review his conviction, tossing out charges against McCabe. Next thing you know, Manafort will walk.
Barr is fed up, and from now on, if somebody yells "witch hunt," then he might just toss the case. The golden age for political corruption just shines brighter and brighter every day,
3
Smear people with lies and bogus charges. You can dispose of political enemies and bankrupt them as well.
That's the M.O.
Where are the Harvey Weinstein Tapes of Trump partying?
Whatever you want Mike will pay. Oh yeah.
4
Trump is on a heckova roll now. Who woulda thunk it? Barr barely hesitated after the Tweet that launched a thousand slips. The DOJ has slipped through lady liberties hands into the deathgrip chokehold Donald John Trump has around the neck of our democracy.
5
It's all part of the same scam. These guys are really, really good at the con
5
Occam’s Razor: The Justice Department is doing its job. No psychotic conspiracy theories please.
6
Time for Mr. McCabe to sue citizen Trump. This nonsense he is the President is fake and everyone knows he can't keep hiding that he can do what he wants since he is the President. He had gutless Sessions fire McCabe a day before his pension would be eligible. A nasty, vile little man who destroys people lives when they come for him and his lackeys I don't want to hear compassion being aired. Sessions by the way is a pathetic little man who has no self respect what so ever. He is fired by Trump and called "stupid, three rate lawyer" and now running to get back his Senate seat and begging Trump to come out for him. By god man show some dignity and self worth. But, then like in a good crime family there is none. Is this decision final or will Barr have members of his "Special team" look at. Jim Trautman
10
The reasons to not charge McCabe may be:
a) he agreed to turn state's evidence to incriminate someone higher-up
b) the establishment made a quid-pro-quo deal to go easy on Flynn and Stone in return for leniency on McCabe
c) his trial could expose issues that are grave national security risks
d) he is really innocent
Anything other than (d) only roils the swamp, that many already distrust, more murky.
6
what appears to Barr asserting the independence of the Justice Department is actually a case being decided to further the ongoing debasement by the Trump administration of the Constitution and the rule of law.
5
It is absolute nonsense to believe that Barr is now going to be a fair decision maker. This is just a cynical attempt on his part to appear fair and just while, in total fact, he is beholden to Trump lock, stock, and barrel. McCabe’s relief in this issue just came coincidentally, fortunately for him.
5
And he deserves to receive his FULL PENSION for serving his country honorably-the complete opposite of Donald trump, who cheated on his taxes and is driving the country into complete ruin on every front
13
Barr’s getting nervous and trying to do some “right stuff” before he gets the boot.
Nevertheless, Barr can’t be trusted.
Hoping McCabe will finally get some peace...that’s the very least he deserves.
9
Dismiss the minor charge.
Hang him with the major charge.
This is learned in Prosecution 101 for those of you who didn't attend Avenetti Law School.
3
@Erica Smythe: There is no major charge.
2
@Anna
Not yet. There are still investigators digging into the origins of the Russian collusion charges. They have met stiff resistance gaining access to emails. Some Obama emails are mysteriously missing.
It's not easy investigating our own intelligence bureaucrats, who obfuscate and deceive for a living.
1
@AACNY: Which Russian collusion charges?
Any chance he can appeal the punitive dismissal by trump mere days before he would have gotten his pension?
7
Any appeal would require him to reveal information about other wrongdoing by others and himself. I’m sure that he doesn’t want to become the victim of a convenient suicide.
1
Barr should be disbarred for his acquiescence and stealth activity that runs entirely contrary to his claim that the President is interfering. Barr's claim is likely censorship through noise and or running for the hills.
Barr's tight relation with Leonard Leo, the close connection of Koch and his Gang of Plutocrats (GOP) and their aligned regressive interests represented by the OpusDay-Oligarchic alliance with certain members of the Knights of Malta, and the their judicial lobbyists among the 5 Federalist Society hyperpartisan men put on the Supreme Court thanks to Leo should tell anyone with any remaining brain cells that Barr's continuing efforts to "investigate" and or find "evidence" (true or otherwise) to support Putin's Federal Counterintelligence Service propaganda about Ukrain being the actual criminal in 2016 election interference rather than Russia are signs that at best his allegiance is to those who see democracy, freedom, truth, and justice as their enemy and that by no means is he a friend of the spirit or the letter of the Constitution.
I don't know what drives Barr but his associations and actions give me cause to believe it isn't a commitment to truth. Trump throws around the words "dirty cops" when talking about Comey, Mueller, and McCabe but that is really just a reflection of the real dirty law enforcement chief for whom disbarment would be an easy out.
These people have no shame but they out to be ashamed of their treachery to the US, to justice.
5
@Tom Paine
Try this: Dominionist theocracy.
...Mr. Trump, who has long believed he was targeted illegally by Mr. McCabe and other former senior F.B.I. officials..."
Oh, yes? You think he believes that? I guess it's possible for a mentally damaged criminal to actually believe he's innocent, though I think this was probably a slip of the pen.
But as I think about it, we laymen really don't know what planet this man is on; we really don't know what he actually believes.
3
When does the Twitter tirade begin???
1
You know Barr asked the question. Which would you prefer: Leniency for Stone or a continued attack on McCabe? Whether explicitly stated or not, Trump decided McCabe's use as a political foil had ended. He's now a defense for leniency against Stone. Stated or unstated, that was the Attorney General's recommendation to the President as a personal lawyer.
8
Sure hope McCabe gets his pension. This whole exercise has been politically motivated.
10
While Barr's streak of independence comes too late given his slavish devotion to Trump, small steps to restore confidence inside the Justice Department much needed. When the Grand Jury refused to indict McCabe late last year the Judge pressed the government to try or dismiss the case. Wise to decline and move on.
Flynn much like Stone only more so has offended Judge Sullivan. Government lawyers face strong headwinds from Sullivan. He personally asked Flynn several times about his plea even ask if he wanted to withdraw plea during a hearing late last year. Flynn replied he entered a guilty plea because he was guilty and did not wish to withdraw the plea.
My crystal all far too hazy to forecast but clearly Judges Sullivan and Jackson are no nonsense types unlikely to be amused by Trump's antics or Barr's acquiescence. Also too soon to tell whether under fire from questions about Barr's remarks Trump erupts in a tirade. Trump's thank you tweet shook the ground beneath Barr's feet.
1
Like the total and complete exoneration of Hillary Clinton and the faux email case, McCabe's exoneration will be buried and soon forgotten. But the damage done to our country--through the slandering of Clinton and mental and financial torture done to McCabe--will be long lasting. That Trump's supporters continue to stand behind this vile man after all of his cruelty suggests that long after he is gone, we will still be feeling the reverberations of his menace.
9
just happy for Mac Cabe and his family. Now they have to refund him and pay his retirement at full extent. Trump should be prosecuted for his unlawfull behavior.
10
Vote out every single Republican. Every single one. Your freedom depends on it. Vote blue no matter who.
15
@MorningInSeattle,
No, thanks. I will use my HEAD and vote RED instead.
1
If there are any lawyers out there, why can't Trump be sued for slander/libel when he badmouths people without any factual basis either by voice or by Twitter? Is the president protected from libel laws? That would be a civil case and not a criminal case, so the OLC memorandum should not be able to protect him from a suit.
6
Forecast for tonight into tomorrow: high probability of tweetstorm. Prepare accordingly.
4
Just more damage control on the part of Barr. Feds didn’t have a case so they figured they would go ahead and drop it at this moment to make it appear that Justice and Trump aren’t working together to go after Trump’s “enemies”. Not fooled.
5
I hope the nightmare for the McCabe’s is over. It should be a huge concern that nobody in power tried to help McCabe.
4
So now we have the trade-off: A strong case against Flynn for a weak case against McCabe.
The arc of justice now is being bent beyond recognition.
3
So much fiction and drama. It is all insincere and not believable. I have never been fooled by Impeached Trump or his minions. Too bad so many can't see the light.
2
Today's score on McCabe:
Rule of law - 1
Banana Republic - 0
This case only. Of course this doesn't count the interference in the Flynn case and God knows how many other misdeeds Trump, Barr, and their assorted henchmen are perpetrating. Keep the tweets coming, President. You're creating a record of thuggishness that will go down in history.
6
The Trump presidency is, foremost and always, about "attacking"someone or something; from the news media to political opponents, to members of his own cabinet, to those he avowedly and simply hates. He brings embarrassment and shame to Americans.
8
The only "lying case" that would be a slam dunk -- is any case brought against Trump. Barr and Trump dropped it to avoid the double discovery turnover of evidence (would incriminate who, pray tell). They can't prove their case -- so, no indictment.
McCabe's lawsuit also provides for discovery -- and Trump/DOJ are not complying -- yet. This is in court, and the refusal to turn over the evidence will eventually be decided by a judge. Maybe even the Supreme Court -- because that seems to be how far Trump is will to go.
The Supreme Court will be deciding how much Executive Power will be turned over to Trump - with this case, to be heard on March 3rd--
https://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/seila-law-llc-v-consumer-financial-protection-bureau/
1
ChristineMcM
I am beginning to think that the grand plan in Trump's ugly scheming mind is to undo the authority and structure of the DOJ. This would take care of all these gnat's bites that continue to nag him in his march toward dictatorship, advancing Putin's plan, and filling his and his kids' personal coffers. Too much is never enough for the likes of Trump and his spawn.
4
Hey politicians, want to have this newspaper exonerate you after you have been caught doing something so egregious that career prosecutors have stepped down?
Take an innocent man who you have smeared for 2 years with innuendo that he is guilty of crimes that you are much too busy to indict him for. Have this newspaper write stories quoting you about how guilty this man is and how if you had the time you would certainly indict him but you just don't have the time to indict this very guilty man.
And then, when you are caught trying to get leniency for a convicted criminal because Trump wants him free, you simply announce that you are not indicting this other man that you haven't indicted for the last 2 years.
Reporters like this one will marvel at your independence that you didn't indict the man you haven't indicted for 2 years. Because this reporter implies that the man is guilty so your not indicting him is just like you demanding leniency for someone else who is a criminal convicted for real crimes.
All you have to do to get reporters at this newspaper to admire your independence is announce you aren't indicting the guy who you haven't indicted for the past 2 years! Because in the eyes of reporters, that's just like interfering in the sentencing of a CONVICTED CRIMINAL and getting him off.
2
Mr. Trump and his henchmen should pay all of Mr. McCabe's expenses due to this investigation, legal, and the like. Plus, he should be given his retirement payments w/o any reduction whatsoever. This case shows only a little of how brutal Mr. Trump and his revenge troops can be to an individual citizen. All other Americans should be aware of this brutality, and on the watch, lest it happens to them!
16
this case should have exist in some banana républic and not in USA.I hope to watch D.J
TRUMP held accountable of every attacks to democracy .This will be decided by US voters in november. I 'd like to watch the great buffoon wearing a jumpsuit.
3
I am with you all the way on behalf of our law enforcement, investigation and secret service who put their precious lives on line for all of us - not a small matter that can be measured in dollars !
So you also believe that someone should pay all of Trump’s legal bills for his defense to invented evidence and accusations that he was in collusion with the Russians.
McCabe should have his pension restored.
17
Trump and Barr have obviously decided that what McCabe has to say at a public trial is better left unsaid.
16
Something is rotten in the State of Denmark. Does Mr. Barr know something few others do? Is President Trump on his way out and, is it time for cohorts to attempt resurrecting their reputations? A sorry sight.
4
Simply Quarantine the entire bunch - no movement - beyond one address and post Federal marshals to keep a watch until a judge ( not a Republican judge) decide their fate !
1
And when will Donald Trump be charged for his lies?
9
It seems to be eluding some folks here that they are saying that Bill Barr and trump’s own DoJ are members of the “deep state”. Too funny.
4
Actually members of Banana State !
If you look at the reaction to this on FOX, from the Right, and from Trumpists here, the real problem with Trump’s behavior and actions appears: unless they get exactly what they want, and everything they decide they want later, no law and no legal action and no investigation and no investigator or prosecutor is ever, ever going to be good enough.
It’s grotesque enough to have all the screaming about Loretta Lynch or Hillary or whatever. That nonsense, at least, kinda sorta makes some sort of paranoiac sense, providing you assume that lefty one-world blackhelicopterists ran Obama’s government.
But this is four Federal prosecutors that Trump appointed recently. It’s Bill Barr. And THEY’RE not pure enough, not angry enough, not witch-hunty enough. And neither was Robert Mueller, the lifelong Republican and Marine combat vet.
That’s what’s hilarious, because it gives away the game: this has nothing to do with who did what, or the laws, or anything else. It’s blind, crazy fury that anybody had the nerve to interfere with hunting down Trumpy’s enemies, or more precisely anybody our nutbar president (lower case intentional) hallucinates is his enemy.
These guys yell about Venezuela and socialism a lot, right? (Well, whenever they’re not cheering on KGB Colonel Putin.) okay, you know how you get the kind of totalitarian state they think Social Security leads to?
It’s not marx. It’s this notion that the head of state gets to use their power like this, for any reason at all.
11
Well said !
First they came for blacks
I am not black
Then they came for Jews
I am not Jew
Then they came for Democrats
I am not a Democrat
Then, they came for even the Republicans ? Hard to believe ?
Better believe it !
T
They form the inner circle !
Everyone including the Republicans are dispensable ! that is where we are going !
Barr and trump are cooking up a stew in a rusty old cauldron ready to feed it to those hungry for more of what trump has been dishing them for three years. If previous maneuverings by these two hasn't taught anyone on what political, unlawful corruption looks like, meaning that base cheering his rallies, it will be up to the voter whose sick of the putrid smell arising the cauldron.
2
"It also appears to be a sign that Attorney General William P. Barr wants to show that the Justice Department is independent from Mr. Trump"
You meant "pretend", not "show", right?
10
What’s Trump going to do about this? Just take it and show he’s a weak bully who backs down whenever someone stands up to him?
1
Sad about this..
He belongs in jail.
But the Leftist can now celebrate - hey, we know its been a while since they've been able to do so on anything.. so, enjoy this little 'victory"
I'll celebrate in Nov when our President is reelected. Big time.
2
I’ll remember those initials and wait for your eating your words...
3
If he belongs in jail then he should be jailed right next to Roger Stone and DJT.
3
You’ll be celebrating the end of our democracy and the rule of law. We’ll all be subjects and no longer citizens.
1
Too late for Barr to get his credibility and self-esteem back....
4
Make no mistake, this is a "prisoner swap".
Barr knows that their persecution of McCabe now has diminishing returns - they have already made the message clear to government employees that the Trump's justice department can get them anywhere, anytime unless they support Trump's illegal schemes.
This sets up the false equivalence of stopping the Flynn prosecution, and the Stone sentencing.
Trump are Barr are liars, telling big lies, the biggest lies. And, like in Nazi Germany, the big lies will convince enough citizens to support this dictatorship.
6
What a bizarre take in this article and headline "appears to be a move to distance the Justice Department from the president." How about "a move to follow the law" or "because the case against Mr. McCabe was not there."
Apparently everything in the country is only about trump and the rule of law is obsolete -- At least according to the NY Times.
7
So many actions by Trump for which he should have been impeached, but the Democrats stupidly chose only one.
2
The singular, appalling signal this sends is that media actually considers it not in the terms of McCabe's moral vulnerability, but in some weird universe a connection to events of the past two days after two years of scrutiny.
McCabe's walk from legal prosecution has as much to do separating DOJ from our President as the Apollo moon landings affect tidal patterns on Earth.
It's every bit as likely that McCabe and Comey will acquire harsher and actual punitive notoriety from John Durham's work. We can only hope.
1
Suddenly Mr. Barr is concerned about how 'independent' he and his DOJ looks to the public? One more staged drama in an administration that only knows how to stage drama. We are not fooled about Mr. Barr. We know he's in the president's pocket.
10
OK, he won't be charged. But will he get his pension? Probably not.
2
Like everyone else close to Trump, Barr has been thoroughly corrupted. The administration's ploys, in this case the old "good cop/bad cop" ruse, with Barr 'acting' like he is independent when, in reality, he and Trump probably planned their little scheme before Barr's "manifesto." Their schemes are so thinly vailed that it shows their true destain and lack of respect for the citizenry at large.
5
Losing a pension is the only language these scoundrels understand. They know that the government usually does not have enough determination to throw you in jail. Take the word Trump out of this story to understand that McCabe really deserved it. I wish that the government would go for the jugular (the pension) more often to consistently discourage bad behavior. In reality this is the only language they understand.
1
This was a great move, as it reveals the double standards in favor of Democrats and lifelong bureaucrats and against conservative citizens. There is no way Roger Stone should have to spend a minute in jail for doing the same thing Comey, McCabe, Clapper and Brennan did while they’re out making millions on book deals and speaking engagements and spots on cable news. It disgusts most of the country including civil liberty minded liberals in favor of equal justice for all regardless of political persuasion or govt post. Good for the justice department dropping charges against McCabe. Now let’s hope they do the same for Roger Stone and get Flynn out of jail. Immediately!!
6
I totally agree with you. Thank you.
3
Compare Mueller's treatment of Flynn with that of McCabe by Barr. Which is more 'just'?
3
Suddenly everyone is McCabe’s friend, and the FBI are good guys. Sheesh.
Look, McCabe got a bad deal and that should be corrected.
But the FBI is not our friend. They represent the entrenched ruling class and are the enemy of the working class and everything progressives fight for.
3
With this bit of good news, Andy McCabe should now receive his full pension and an apology from Trump. I won't hold my breath!
5
“Oh gee, nothing here after all. But note, we’ve ruined his career and stolen his pension so all others beware.” That’s the message and I’m sure it’s being heard loud and clear throughout the government. Heaven help us.
7
Does this mean Mr. McCabe will, at long last, get his pension back?
3
Well, so much for the so called, now theoretical, “rule of law.”
3
Another sting for the Trumpster conspiracy theorists.
For two years this comments section has been lit up with right wingers claiming Trump was going to catch all the people perpetrating the "Russia Hoax".
Investigate the investigators! They chanted.
Wonder when it will sink in that the facts just are not on their side, no matter how hard they want to believe that the world is against their savior Trump.
Probably as soon as they realize that Mexicans did not take their jobs, that Wall Street loves Trump - not the Democrats, that Russia wanted Trump to win, and that they were left behind in the economic recovery because they live in states that have trickle down economics and promote jobs in dying industries like coal.
You may deserve an incompetent leader like Trump, but the rest of us do not.
8
If you believe that it was justified to charge and convict people who were accused of lying as part of the Russia Inquiry, then surely you all believe that Andrew McCabe should be charged as well, right?
3
It’s all politics no matter what any self appointed saint says.
5
Finally...an adult decision.
One for the good guys!
McCabe must sue the Justice Department, Jeff Sessions and Donald Trump for firing him improperly. He should also sue all the talking heads for slander and loss of reputation. Start a GoFundMe page Mr. McCabe, let us use the courts to restore decency to our country instead of letting these crooks use the courts for their awful agendas.
3
Actually, I was thinking of doing that for Roger Stone. He deserves it more that the crooked cop.
1
@Rose M ,
I am with you there. I will donate funds for Roger Stone.
Just the way he was arrested makes me boil with rage. He was treated worse than serial killer.
Meanwhile, the crooked cop just gets his hands slapped for doing the same thing.
1
So how long before Barr appoints someone to reinvestigate this decision? See Michael Flynn case.
Has Mr. McCabe's retirement pension been reinstated?
3
Trump won’t even care - he just needed some campaign footage. Like the Ukraine investigation announcement.
1
McCabe doesn’t get charged for lying but everyone else is. It seems unfair to a lot of people who have gone to jail for lying like Martha Stewart.
5
Why the DOJ has to wait until letting the crime kingpin go scot free to carry on with his lawlessness, by the Elected Republicans ?
Barr and Trump do a lot of talking in public. What is really important is what they say in private.
I hope they ask Barr for a list of when he has talked with Trump.
3
Absolutely !
1
Does this also clear the way for Andrew McCabe to receive his retirement package since he was vindictively fired hours before his scheduled retirement?
6
From reading James Comey's book, "A Higher Loyalty," I'm reminded why Trump was immediately antagonistic toward Andrew McCabe from Day 1 as FBI acting director.
Trump fired Comey when he was out in California. The president is a vindictive person, and this was probably intended to leave the man stranded on the West Coast. Comey learned about it while in the FBI office when it came on the TV news.
McCabe, who was now the acting director of the FBI, granted Comey permission to fly home to DC on the FBI jet that flew him out there. After all, there was an entourage of agents and the jet itself that needed to return home. This was the decent thing to do.
Trump was then furious that McCabe had slighted his wishes to strand Comey in California. Such a petty, vindictive autocrat who feels he must avenge every slight.
6
McCabe didn’t lose his pension. He lost some of it though. Retirement after 20 years of service? Not bad. PaulN (retired after 41 years of work)
Sorry, perhaps I missed it.
Will McCabe's pension be rightfully restored?
Hope reigns for our decency & pressure pays...
I ask ALL:
put yourself in the place of those now under siege,
(whether you like them or not).
Tomorrow it may be you (the abbreviated words of Martin Niemoller.)
Please speak out for truth & decency.
2
This is disappointing and it gives permission for this to happen again and again. I learned from the Whitey Bulger case that the FBI and DOJ take care of their own. Only one FBI agent went to jail in that case, and there should have been several. These kinds of decisions only weaken the public's confidence in the FBI and lessens their (FBI) credibility.
2
I continue to be baffled by the US "justice" system . Stone is "found guilty " of "lying " and sentenced to 9 years in prison . ( the US must be the only country in the world where lying is a criminal offence ) . McCabe is clearly lying but gets off scot free.
Thank God I live in a country where the judiciary is not controlled by the left wing swamp .
4
So, you are claiming that in the UK, it is OK to lie to law enforcement?
Give the corrupt and vengeful Mr. Trump another 5 minutes. Sadly, he may convince the "independent" Mr. Barr to reverse this decision. We are all at risk.
2
More of the two sets of Justice in DC evidence.
The reason he is not charged with a process crime a conservative or Republican, not to mention a Trump supporter, would be charged in a second is because no DC jury will indict or convict a government player for process crimes committed in name of the resistance.
They took out insurance, they leaked, they got and are getting away with it. Deep State Justice. But there is an election coming up.
The media is interested in one thing only - Russian investigations and corresponding reporting were above the board and justified.
6
@Detachment Is Possible The deputy attorney general, Jeffrey A. Rosen, and the former United States attorney for the District of Columbia, Jessie K. Liu, whose prosecutors handled the case were both Trump appointees.
Two principal prosecutors on the case left and expressed reservations about how the case was being handled.
The 2 key witnesses for the prosecution both admitted they had no supporting evidence that Mr. McCabe had lied to investigators.
And finally, lying to investigators in a non criminal case is rarely prosecuted as a crime.
Doesn't leave you with much to go on does it? But that has never mattered to Republicans.
6
@Detachment Is Possible
Yup.
282,830 votes for Clinton.
12,723 votes for Trump.
No democrat will even get indicted by a jury in DC unless it is a sex crime or a violent crime.
Barr has some very serious explaining to do when he is questioned later this month in the House. He is not going to talk his way out of this with the American people, but I do not think that matters much to him. He really has to talk himself out of this with the hundreds of career prosecutors who must be somewhere between livid and embarrassed.
I suspect, Barr gets one shot with those career prosecutors. If he does not give them what they need; total loyalty to them and their independence from the White House, I suspect the number of resignation will rise rapidly from four to [insert number here].
The American people need answers and we will be looking to Barr's testimony, under oath for those answers.
6
In addition to reinstating his pension, there must be some legal remedy for Mr. McCabe and others who have had to endure the effects of DJT's "wrath" which is nothing more than red meat thrown to his base.
Lives have been affected with what this man has tweeted, said and insinuated; (most of them lies) and he should be held accountable.
Every civil servant or other person who he has targeted should sue him for libel. He appears to understand lawsuits.
13
Sounds like McCabe has a good bona fide case for wrongful termination and should sue for his pension benefits and money damages and recovery of legal fees. What otherwise is to prevent the government from firing any employee on the day before their scheduled retirement date simply to deprive them of pension benefits. It would and is here an act of bad faith which carries legal weight, aggravated by a baseless retaliatory motive in this case.
13
Robert O'Brien has managed to clean house at the National Security Council, ridding the agency of deep state resistance operators and, as a result, cutting the force in half.
AG Barr must do the same at the Department of Justice. The chickens are ruling the hen house.
6
@GDeLuca: Conspiracy theories without a shred of evidence don’t cut it anymore. Trump is the vindictive wannabe tyrant here, not the civil servants who uphold their oath of loyalty to the Constitution.
1
@Anna Spoken like a true member of the resistance.
1
The next step is to give him his pension and benefits plus compensation.
14
Interesting that McCabe, someone who actually deserves a Medal for Freedom, is continually attacked and prosecuted by Trump.
9
They really did the wrong thing here but if you going to deny a guy his pension then at least donated it to a good cause like CPAC or something.
1
Donald Trump tries to ruin anyone who reveals him for what he is. Both Mr Comey and Mr McCabe have written books.
6
Wow, the Deep State wins again. McCabe is corrupt. Unfortunately, he won't be prosecuted.
6
If you think you have evidence the Justice Department lacks, by all means come forward.
The rest is just hot air.
8
Our Banana Republican 'Justice' Dept. is using the empty threat of prosecution to silence Trump critics. I hope McCabe continues to sue for wrongful dismissal and for his pension.
16
I hope he will sue and get his full pension reinstated and get back his legal expenses. In addition, I hope that one of the Billionaires ruining in the Democrat primaries hire him for a high paying job in their campaigns/NGOS, or business.
7
None of these top officials ever get what they have coming to them. There is certainly two tiers of justice in this country. One for people like Stone and one for criminals like Comey, McCabe, and Clinton. If your average citizen sent classified material over a home brewed server, we would be UNDER the jail.
4
Your displeasure is misplaced.
None of the documents to which you refer were rated “classified.”
You cannot deflect from Trump’s criminology by trying to impugn his political opponents and those he has wronged.
7
"Mr. Trump seized on her campaign as proof that Mr. McCabe wanted to take him down while protecting Hillary Clinton, whom the F.B.I. had investigated for her use of a private email server."
The FBI, Comey and McCabe both did much more during the campaign to hurt Hillary than Trump by far.
They hurt more than anything the Russians did, Comey with his last minute reopening of the Email matter, and McCabe's false Clinton = Trump foundation leaks.
Never understood Trump's illogical attacks on these two guys; He should have sent them thank you flowers.
Also, imagine what would come out in discovery about Trump!
8
Trump insists that he has the right to criticize the courts, the judges and the outcome and even subvert the judgement of the courts with retribution against judges who don't follow his will and members of the Justice Department who do exactly what he wants them to do regardless of the rule of law.
As a result, Republicans will have to face the monster that they created by their negligence when they acquitted him. The fact is that many of those on Trump's 'enemies list' are Republicans from a dying ethos that the Senate Republicans once claimed to believe not too long ago now; the ethos of honesty, integrity and the rule of law. James Comey, Robert Mueller, Jeff Sessions, James Mattis, John Kelly, and a host of others were/are/have been esteemed members of the Republican party and that goes double for the former Republican nominee, Mitt Romney whose eloquence nailed the crimes of Trump for all to see.
There's now a long list of Republicans who have called out Trump and are viewed, by Trump, as his enemies. The Senate Republicans are aiding and abetting the destruction of a once great party by their profession of loyalty to this unhinged man. How their consciences can permit them to do this against some of the most upright members of their party is beyond me. But thanks to Trump's power grab, sooner or later, Senate Republicans will have to face the monster they have created or be devoured forever by the beast they now swear fealty to.
6
Maybe he's not being charged because the DOJ has nothing credible and doesn't want the humiliation of having its case thrown out of court.
12
Yes, your Honor. I violated the FBI rules by lying and was fired because of my actions. But I was never prosecuted in Court so therefore I am not guilty and should get my pension back. Besides, I did it for the greater good for all who dislike Trump.
4
Since he was not tried you have no idea whether he lied.
You are not the judge and your bias would disqualify you as a juror.
7
Trump is bluffing and bullying, and using Barr to do this. If I were any of those "accused" I would welcome going to court, calling all witnesses, going into all facts in depth, getting all the taxes and depositions. Oh yeah it could be very interesting. Trump won't dare go more than threats.
2
Now, McCabe needs to get his full pension money restored. His firing was just another example of Trump's vindictiveness.
10
"The lack of charges is likely to anger Mr. Trump, who has long believed he was targeted illegally by Mr. McCabe and other former senior F.B.I. officials..."
Can we stop reporting Trump's words as if they should be believed, NYT? Can we state this more accurately along these lines:
"The lack of charges is likely to anger Mr. Trump, who, probably because he sees a personal benefit in doing so, has frequently stated he was targeted illegally by Mr. McCabe and other former senior F.B.I. officials..."
32
So McCabe and Clapper walk for lying while Flynn is looking at years in jail for the same offense.
12
@chet380
Hardly the "same offense" - stick to the facts. McCabe never admitted to lying, and as the article indicates, the case was weak. Why would he lie about speaking to the media when he had the authority to speak to the media? Flynn not only admitted and pled guilty to lying, he lied about speaking with the Russian Ambassador Kislyak on the day Obama announced a crackdown on Russian spying in the USA and expelled Russian diplomat/spies from this country. He also hadn't registered as a foreign agent for Turkey, which paid him to represent its interests during the Trump campaign for President, interests he pursued during the campaign and following his appointment as National Security Advisor after the inauguration. Trump was warned both before inauguration (by Obama) and after (by Sally Yates) that he should avoid Flynn and of Flynn's potentially compromised (by Russia) status. Same offense, yeah right.
15
Not exactly. Flynn plead guilty.
2
@chet380
Evidence, please!
2
Where does one go to get his reputation back?
7
And his full retirement, which Trump sabotaged by firing him days before he retired? A "billionaire" preventing a working man from getting his retirement after serving the government his whole life. Trump supporters will explain it away.
11
Mr McCabe: Sue sue sue sue sue!
18
@ Sr hot dog
Both McCabe & Pete Strzok filed lawsuits, against Wray and Barr in their professional roles last year. You can read their filings at Lawfare blog. The attempted ruination of these good men’s careers, reputations and finances purposely by trump (and then broadcast btw ad infinitum on Fox) is a shameful story.
It’s a good day for Mr. McCabe and his family, and for all their many supporters.
5
@Sr Hot Dog Better yet get a whole group of people wronged and sue for slander, make Trump verify every claim, make him testify, go into great depth on each subject under oath. Do it , I'll help donate to the attorney fees.
3
Yes, please sue; you deserve your retirement benefits.
Will * blow a gasket after finding out about this?
5
Okay. So prosecutors wanted Stone to serve nine years for lying to investigators, and McCabe gets a pass. That is not equal justice. If the political parties were reversed, that would be glaringly obvious.
10
@Cate
Stone was found guilty by a jury of his peers of seven felonies, including witness tampering. McCabe was investigated, the case was weak, and he's now cleared. Stone has a long history - decades - of political dirty tricks at the base of which is lying, lying, lying /denying, denying, denying. His reputation earned over these decades was as a proud sleazeback/bottom-feeder of the lowest order. Typical friend of Trump. McCabe served his country with distinction. There is nothing equal about these two individuals and their respective lifetimes of behavior, whatsoever.
11
So if there was the remotest possibility of putting together a case that wouldn’t have been thrown out of court, do you think Barr would not have pursued? Really, in courts at least it seems that facts still matter. But give trump a second term and we’ll see the judiciary dismantled and show trials will be the new reality TV.
11
@Cate Stone was found guilty of seven felony charges of obstruction, false statements, and witness tampering.
10
It's not as if he's escaped trump's vengeance-- he was stripped of his retirement benefits, was he not?
12
@Sixofone
Jackson above notwithstanding, you are correct. McCabe was fired days before his retirement would have vested. He is currently taking legal action against the Trump administration to recover that pension.
“Additionally, people who are charged with lying to the F.B.I. are typically accused of committing the offense in the course of a criminal investigation”
This is no doubt why McCabe wasn’t charged, but the conclusion doesn’t change the underlying facts that McCabe lied to the FBI.
It also doesn’t explain why Michael Flynn was charged with lying to the FBI about non-criminal conduct: discussing potential sanctions relief with the Kislyak during the transition period while he was laying the groundwork for the incoming administration.
5
There is no “underlying fact” that McCabe lied, since it has not been proved in any court.
5
@Jerry Engelbach
I think he may have acknowledged it at some point. It was after all why he was fired. Likely, the lie, or misstatement, or what have you was ultimately determined by a grand jury to not actually be a crime. The more remarkable because, as has been noted elsewhere, a decent prosecutor could get a grand jury to indict a ham sandwich. To not even be able to get over that low bar says much about the real reason for the persecution of McCabe.
It's pretty obvious that AG Barr is just another Trump sycophant, politically using the Justice Department as a shield and a sword at his boss's whim. Special treatment for his convicted buddies, and going after honest investigators into Trump malfeasance. The so called investigation by that U.S. attorney from CT into the Russian investigators being exhibits A. When the serious whistleblower allegations were views by Barr, his reaction was, nothing there to pursue by Justice. The man falsely misrepresented the Mueller report to the public. He is nothing more than a mendacious Trump lackey who mouths legalistic nonsense, and has zero credibility.
9
McCabe deserves more than just his pension. He deserves to be the one to put the handcuffs on DJT and escort him to prison.
20
No matter how hard they might try, Barr and his buddies cannot un-ring the bell announcing their partisanship when Barr offered his fraudulent summary of the Mueller Report.
10
9 years if you lie as a Republican.
Scott-free if you lie as a Democrat.
I see what's going on here.
5
Yeah, me too. Trumpists never met a fact that didn’t make them break out in hives, and the only treatment is to warp what actually happened.
8
McCabe is a registered member of the GOP.
Roger Stone is convicted of seven felonies including witness tampering and repeatedly and intentionally lying to and misleading investigators. Fun fact he has a tattoo of Nixon’s face on his back!
Get all the facts before you let Fox News tell you what to think.
9
You think the FBI and the Justice Department are run by Democrats?
Boy, are you out of touch.
5
Another example of charges being brought against enemies of Republicans, and suddenly years later, charges dropped. Latest example, of too many to list, was Hillary Clinton. After 3 years of investigation, buried on page 24, cleared of all charges.
10
@Upsman613 yep, she was cleared by Trump's Justice Dept, and his State Dept investigation of her was dropped, yet Trump still screams about her at his rallies and on Twitter.
7
Barr has made is bed and now he’s lying in it. His corruption is on display for the entire world to see.
10
It appears that we're not yet a banana republic...Congratulations to Andrew McCabe. His book - The Threat - is superbly written by the way.
One wonders again how anyone can support the ugly, mean-spirited, vindictive bully sitting in the White House who fired this career FBI official hours before he was to get his pension.
One wonders how high McCabe's legal bills are and whether he will ever get the pension, the government's decision to drop this case, demands he should have.
9
Trump won't be happy about this, but there's little he can do after Barr's manifesto of "independence."
I've always felt sorry for McCabe who looked so sad and lost when he was fending off Trump's nonstop attacks. Wrong man in wrong place, thanks to Trump's unceremonious firing of Comey for "lack of loyalty".
I understand he has a lawsuit to regain his pension. After 21 years of service, Trump via Sessions fired him with one or two days of his retirement date.
It always seemed they did that to send a message, the first of many, as to what happens when you take any action that adversely affects this president. He was doing his job, but Sessions dangled his retirement over his head like a man about to get the noose, and then kicked the chair out from under simply to satisfy the president's thirst for vengeance.
494
@ChristineMcM I thought too that there was a "manifesto of "'independence'" until I read Barr's latest Flynn case move. The guy is pretty rotten. Just like Trump.
93
@ChristineMcM Refresh the front page. Barr's interview was simply intended to give cover to his continuing efforts to assist Trump's cronies in the run up to the eventual mass pardons.
45
@Kathy Lollock
I hope Mc Gabe gets his pension.
39
Why do I have a knot in my stomach? This is starting to look like political theater. Barr's outburst yesterday really looks more like a song and dance he and Trump cooked up to show that Barr is "independent" after the horrifying tweets of the last few days. Even Trump is capable of knowing when he's gone too far (unfortunately too far for him "too far" is somewhere beyond human understanding) Barr cutting McCabe some slack softens up the masses so when Stone gets a slap on the wrist or a pardon they can claim that they're just balancing the scales
313
@Peter Giordano And just an hour ago it's announced that Barr is "investigating" the Flynn investigation. Political theater that alas leads to something far more dangerous
51
I disagree. I don’t think trump is capable of recognizing the concept of going too far. He IS the king. He has divine right. In his tiny mind.
45
@Peter Giordano Absolutely. If Barr's "declaration of independence" were authentic, and unexpected by Trump, the outraged tweets would have been coming fast and furious. Clearly in the pre-interview strategy session, the Trump team determined that in order to appear independent, Barr would have to play-act as if he were standing up to Trump. No way he would get away with such "insubordination" of Trump if it weren't all a show. Hash out the details, then say the lines for the camera--just like on The Apprentice.
24
On this and all legal cases — criminal and civil — there should be time constraints, provided no obstructive acts are committed by those who are the target of such investigations or by those who have charged a defendant with a crime. The progenitors of either activity should be immediately sanctioned by a judge, who should take more stringent control of the calendar and be more willing to throw frivolous cases out of court. The idea that a defense team can try to run out the clock or that a defendant can be held indefinitely in a state of suspended legal animation on the whim of a prosecutor is anathema to the cause of justice. Justice delayed is justice denied — and today that situation appears more and more frequent.
98
@John A. Figliozzi You know those already exist, right? There are statutes of limitations on criminal an civil cases, as well as speedy trial rights.
1
@John A. Figliozzi ,
John concur with you absolutely, in the case of Flynn he should already be in the slammer.McCabe has been twisting in the wind like a pinata,for Individual One to hit.
3
I agree. Dragging this out for two years was not legitimate prosecutorial activity but was part of a clear pattern to persecute Mr. McCabe.
At the very least, he should be given full retirement benefits because it’s become abundantly clear that firing him two days before he was planning to retire was the first step in Mr.Trump’s baseless, delusional attack on a perceived “enemy.”
5
"It also appears to be a sign that Attorney General Wm. P. Barr wants to show that the Justice Dept is independent from Mr. Trump..."
Wouldn't it be nicer if it were true that the DOJ is independent of Trump? Barr shills for the DJT, and his timetable for sudden interest in morale at the agency is amusing, given how long he's been there. Is anyone buying Barr's faux pique with Trump Tweets; that he can't do his job?
Andrew McCabe: be glad you're not now sharing in DOJ misery. You are the prototypical exemplar of Justice Department professionalism.
178
@drjillshackford
"Attorney General Wm. P. Barr wants to show that the Justice Dept is independent from Mr. Trump..."
Why does this newspaper report every story with a "Barr is just an honorable man showing his independence" spin??
Are reporters really ignorant of Barr's long history? I mean, like what he just did earlier in the week which has clearly been forgotten in this rush to admire Barr for showing so much "independence".
8
They are not throwing McCabe or the skeptics a bone here.
They tried to indict him.
There was nothing there.
If they could fry McCabe they would have.
13
@drjillshackford
Barr is a lap dog and an errand boy. Obviously the McCabe persecution had zero merit so it was better to drop it as phony PR stunt then face a humiliating court loss
13
Barr is Trump's, Roy Cohn, Fixer. That he is backing down from prosecuting McCabe is more of a chess move than anything else. He is giving up a pawn so he can continue to take bigger pieces in the game to appease, promote, and protect Trump.
This should be no surprise, he was Reagan's Fixer when it came to prosecuting those in the Iran-Contra mess such as Oliver North, who got off scot-free.
226
@Barney Feinberg
Yes, and the "bigger pieces" include to double down on the mission to lock Comey up and find fault with prosecutors in Flynn's case via an "outside" prosecutor. Career DOJ however have let it be known that the will not participate in the non-stop fawning over the Emperor's new clothes.
14
@Barney Feinberg - Not even that. He's making a public declaration of giving up on a case he couldn't make. They never had anything on McCabe despite months of trying, this doesn't even rise to the level of sacrificing a pawn. Totally meaningless move to try and make the DOJ look independent when in truth they shouldn't have spent the better part of a year keeping this guy hanging.
It's a sad week for justice in America.
9
@Barney Feinberg Indeed Barr is Trump's fixer. But I believe that it was President George Herbert Walker Bush, not Reagan, who granted "executive clemency" to Iran-Contra felons: Bush/41 granted Christmas Eve pardons, not just to Cap Weinberger, but also to Messrs. McFarlane, Abrams, George, Fiers, and Claridge. The Republican Congress, complicit in smothering special counsel Walsh's six-year investigation, cared not that half this group had pleaded guilty to withholding information from Congress, one had been convicted of two counts of lying to Congress, and one was set for trial on seven counts of perjury and making false statements to Congress. Weinberger was merely under indictment for concealing notes from Congress and from the special counsel.
7
I am so happy for McCabe. I hope he is able to get his firing overturned so his pension is reinstated.
11
At long last, higher DOJ has unhooked itself from a man who may know way, way too much--and which knowledge could easily be supplanted by that from a legion of DOJ prosecutors infuriated by the way the Department has been treated by the Trump White House and its servants.
After all, the U.S. courts still have power to hear cases brought by such people against Trump's underlings--all of which could make their way to a Republican Supreme Court majority which by now is surely getting very, very uncomfortable with their historical association with the party that now grovels to this president.
At total remove from all scenes of such action, I have no inside knowledge of anything, but from the outside all of this is giving me reason to: 1) hope that at last Trump's crimes and cruelties may at last be unravelling; and 2) to wait expectantly for the action in this direction to begin. Let's hope it does, for the country's sake.
3
@David A. Lee Fellow readers, maybe I spoke too soon. Maybe there's no real hope of any reform of anything in this administration--unless and until it's gone. If Mr. Barr is in fact little more than a shill for a corrupt president--if he is willing to corrupt DOJ for his corrupt boss--then maybe his complaints Thursday were in fact the utterance of an actor in a cheap conspiracy complaining about a confederate giving away the game. In any case, his complaints were pretty cheap and self-centered. No complaints about what Mr. Trump is doing to DOJ and other professional staff. They were pretty rich coming from a man who has yet to confess his own complicity in the ongoing presidential slanders against Robert Mueller III and his staff. And, in any case, his whinings betray insufferable hypocrisy in an advocate of High Catholicism who at Notre Dame bore into a secular culture saturated in exactly the self-indulgent ethos he promotes--and decries only when its presidential practitioner scrapes him too publicly on the way to the political debauchery Mr. Trump makes of the whole apparatus of the federal government. That government doesn't belong to Mr. Trump or Mr. Barr. If his Christianity means anything, surely in the will of God it belongs after all and only to the common good of the American people.
Now let’s restore this man’s well earned and well deserved pension. How can any voter forget Trump’s cruelty taking McCabe’s pension 10 hours before he retired.
11
So when does Barr appoint an outside investigator to review Trump’s actions against McCabe, as he has done regarding the grifter Flynn? For that matter, when does Barr start investigating every criminal prosecution since Trump became the sort-of President?
5
How about restoring his pension and reimbursing his legal fees for two years of political persecution?
14
If there wasn't enough evidence to bring the case to trial, it's the right call.
5
Thank you Andrew McCabe for your service to our country and I hope you get the pension you earned through your loyalty to the American people. I enjoyed your book and recommend it to others.
7
Tweet storm is forecast to head up the coast with an extended executive-power extension into Alabama. McCabe just needs to be hired for one day as a staffer for Sen. Romney to get his pension.
6
The reason that Mr. McCabe was not charged was that he did nothing wrong.
But this does not imply that AG Barr is independent of Trump. Barr will still do everything that Trump asks him to do, if it is even slightly legal to do so.
Trump is betraying America, and the Republicans are providing him cover. AG Barr is acting as the Defense Attorney of this Plot Against America, with co-conspirators Roger Stone, Paul Manafort, and Michael Flynn already convicted.
Trump’s tax returns would also show that he is in hock to Putin-connected Russian oligarchs, which is why Trump is so desperate to hide his financial records. Mueller was prevented from investigating Trump’s finances by Rosenstein, and Barr terminated the investigation prematurely.
Remarkably, virtually the entire Republican delegation in Congress (with the lone exception of Romney) is in complete denial of all of this.
The GOP has become the Gang of Putin!
11
"Mr. McCabe spent 21 years in the F.B.I., beginning his career in New York investigating Russian organized crime."
Everything Trump touches has dubious Russian fingerprints on it. By public admission Trump says he hates rats and hates flipping witnesses. Inmates love Trump, so just connect the dots.
I don't say 'lock him up,' that's for banana republics. I do say he should be put him on trial when he is out of office, and if and when found guilty, he should suffer the full consequences.
6
Will McCabe's pension be restored?
6
To insure Trump doesn’t explode in anger at this, Barr is thoughtfully arranging for independent prosecutors to look at the case of venomous sellout Michael Flynn and other sensitive political cases (hang in there, Manafort). You lucked out, McCabe.
4
Hard to believe the Justice Department would make that decision without consulting Trump!
1
it should be obvious by now that until the coming tweet storm subsides we really don't know what will happen here.
3
William Barr should be IMPEACHED!
5
And, par for the course, the FOX "News" website has comments turned off for this story...hilarious!
7
Me thinks that Barr doth protest too much..........
2
What lackey Jeff Sessions did to McCabe denying him his pension by firing him one week before he qualified for retirement, was the cheapest and most cruel act and abuse of power, and should be reversed. This is America not North Korea or some banana republic.
9
Maybe trump will fire Barr. Lock him up.
1
Tip of a very dirty, ugly iceberg, my fellow USS Titanic passengers.
6
This was shameful. Trump's White House initiated and prolonged this torture in order chill others who might oppose him, and now they are finally letting him get back to what's left of his proud professional life of service to his country.
Would you advise your child or grandchild - or even some rotten kid down the street you don't like - to set out on a life of service to their country? Not if you have an ounce of humanity in you.
7
Good. Now restore his pension.
27
@Pups with backpay
7
Trump hates McCabe because he hired Mueller. Everything I read about McCabe pointed to no wrongdoing, so I am happy he will not be charged. Will McCabe now receive the pension Trump cheated him out of? As for the Flynn case, let the Justice Department look into it all they want-the facts will speak for themselves, I believe, as they have for Roger Stone. How do you get around evidence like emails, texts, phone calls, etc? Trump can bluster and threaten all he wants but he and everyone he works with tend to leave a trail that's pretty easy to follow. Facts are stranger than fiction.
18
This decision is good news for the McCabe family and his supporters, of whom I am one.
I do not know if the Justice departments decision was for the benefit of AG Barr, or if they finally determined it was best to listen to the judge overseeing the investigation to produce the evidence or drop the matter due to lack of evidence, but either way, this is welcome relief from the sword of Damocles that has hung over McCabes head for 2 years now.
Now the FBI needs to reinstate McCabe for the amount of time that will allow him to collect his pension and retire with the honor his service to his country for those 21 years so richly deserves.
17
Great. Now the Right will call for Barr's head.
2
See? See how unpressured he is? How justicey? Rule of lawish? Why, he just closed a (sham) investigation into one of the President's critics. You don't get more independent than that. What next? Guiliani's parking space is revoked?
13
Meanwhile, this patriot had his pension stolen and his career destroyed by Trump, whose modus operandi is to lob proven false accusations at people just to destroy them.
I'm relieved for Mr. McCabe, but still sorry that this was ever done to him in the first place.
As for the Trump/Barr regime, we can't get rid of their evil stain on our country fast enough.
18
Oh boy, can’t wait for the trump Twitter storm on this one!
4
Billy Barr is too late in the day, trying to prove he is not a shill for Trump. Too little, too late. No credibility. If he had any guts or integrity he would resign. He is a hard right ideologue with a bizarre absolute-monarch theory of the president's "powers" and he now sees how dangerous to the country his own enabling has been of the evil, criminal, sexual predator, bully, liar, Trump. You lie down with dogs, you get....fleas. Barr should be DISbarred. His recent "conversion" is a joke. Barr has acted like a Mafia consigliere for Trump, not to protect the DoJ. No doubt a lot of other DoJ lawyers were considering quitting and saying they had no confidence or the cronies like Shea and Durham who Barr has surrounded himself with. Next up will Pompous Pompeo suddenly come to Jesus and apologise for the diplomats he let swing in the wind and betray. Another disgusting shill. What a cabinet of grifters and low rent types. Roll on November. If Trump wins again it will only be in the ridiculous Electoral College and the Constitution will be shredded. VOTE!
10
Had Roger Stone reused to talk to prosecutors and took the 5th would he have been charged with any crimes?
2
Of course they're not bringing charges, because this was a sham investigation to begin with. The DOJ would've been laughed out of court bringing these charges and would have had egg all over their face. Much like the Hillary "locker her up" chants and accusations of treasonous email practices, there's no there there. Trump and his cadre of actual criminals, on the other hand.
10
Of course, just the fact that they were able to dangle this over McCabe's head for this long (a Giuliani specialty) gave Trump a win, but will this keep him from a Tweet aggrievement?
Doubtful.
If Trump is silent however, this will show their new strategy of how to contain more top Justice people from resigning in sympathy.
2
Another Tom and Jerry show.
1
Convenient way to dispose of the McCabe problem. Put Donnie on notice to "behave", and while Donnie's on temporary radio silence, use the opportunity to finally dump the stupid case in the quietest way possible. Let's see if Trump can hold up his end of the bargain...and 3, 2, 1....
6
I love it when something like this happens and ruins Trump's weekend!
I'm so glad they are leaving this man alone - hasn't he been through enough due to that criminal in the white house?
Justice!!!
5
Up is down, truth is lying, innocent is guilty. Trump and his sleazy snake oil salesmen ilk are revered by Evangelicals as the second coming of Jesus Christ.
WWOD? (What Would Orwell Do?)
5
So Mcabe lied and his case gets dropped, yet Roger Stone should die in jail. Sounds about right for the left’s version of justice.
3
Since when is the left in control of the Justice Department?
McCabe didn’t lie. Dropping the case vindicates him.
I can’t distinguish whether the right is motivated by delusion or ignorance. Maybe just lying.
3
AHHHH! Now Barr's self serving comments yesterday make sense.
2
The Wannabe dictator has told HIS DOJ to look nice, because he's getting flack from the Stone affair. BARR does whatever his Master WANTS!
2
Trump's vendetta against McCabe is out of proportion to any misdeed McCabe might be guilty of, whether in a legal sense or a moral sense. Firing a man hours before his retirement is vested is downright nasty.
But worse is Trump's belief that he can "do whatever I want." His micromanagement is forcing good people from government service. We are left with vacancies filled by second- and third-best employees as Trump trashes one department after another. This is not good management; it's raw paranoia.
261
@Barbara
You are part of the problem. You are willing to give McCabe a pass for reasons unrelated to whether he was guilty or innocent. If he is guilty then charge him. Everyone. All the time. He can’t be innocent just because he is part of your team
5
@Jason If you read the article, then you would know that the grand jury chose not to charge him. Case closed.
24
@Jason McCabe WAS charged, and now the prosecutors are dropping the charges. Do you think maybe that could be because they can't find any evidence of guilt?
26
Good for McCabe. It also proves that Trump's DOJ acts independently, even if Trump exercises his constitutional right to express his opinions and frustrations.
5
@Alex K No it doesn't. He just threw a bone at us to make us think he does. Let's not be gullible. This is all for show. If Trump wasn't in agreement, trust me we would've heard about it on twitter world. This is so we would forget about the Roger Stone case. I don't trust this Administration at all, plus Republican Senate and some of Trump's implants.
14
I find the whiny tone of this recurring “The President has a right to express his opinion, just like everyone else” argument ridiculous.
AS I’M SURE YOU KNOW, nobody is trying to infringe on the president’s right to free speech. AS I’M SURE YOU ALSO KNOW, the president is the most powerful person in the world. The point you so willfully ignore is that his speech is extraordinarily powerful and should be used wisely. He’s not just some average blowhard holding forth from his rocking chair at the retirement home. His words matter more than yours and mine, and used carelessly can destroy lives and nations.
9
@Alex K Lol, no it doesn’t. Barr can’t even keep his lies up for one whole day!
9
Great! It was a needlessly long process. Now sue for your pension and expenses incurred.
9
The Grand Jury refused to indict him over a year ago. A Grand Jury would indict a ham sandwich so obviously there was no case there.
This is obviously just political cover as Barr has now been ordered by Trump to free Flynn.
Flynn plead guilty to lying to the FBI. He then ,under oath, in court ,admitted to lying to the FBI. Now he says he was lying when he testified under oath.
The irony is to great, either lie is perjury.
12
Do you hear that noise? It was the sound of Trump's head exploding when McCabe was cleared by the DOJ.
10
Are you sure? Trump and Barr probably have this all planned. And I would Love to see Trumps head explode!
2
It's just another coda in T's opera of defamation.
3
Is Mr. McCabe now able to receive his retirement benefits?
What Mr. McCabe went through as a victim of Trump's vicious retaliation was horrendous. I truly feel for what he endured and hope he will be able to fully recover and get his life back, away from the unhinged vindictive man in the White House. Under Trump, this is no time to be employed in government service if you are a patriot.
6
Wishful thinking.
It's a diversion, a smoke screen for far worse deeds.
Flynn,Manafort, and Stone now walk.
4
Let's see.. it's still early on Friday.
Plenty to time for Trump to start rabid-tweeting about this and demand the AG Barr step in and reverse this decision.
What are the odds that AG Barr reverses this within the next 72 hours? Pretty high actually.. given the craven and persistent judicial corruption taking place under Trump and Barr.
4
Then reinstate McCabe’s pension. That was a vindictive move all along.
As for Barr, he’s one guy. He needs the entire Justice Dept. behind him. Kinda hard to do when he’s Trump’s spineless ally.
5
Is it a sign that Barr wants to show independence from the WH, or is there just no prosecutable case?
3
Throw the small ones back.
2
Fake case.
3
This is an odd interpretation of this decision. No one is distancing himself from anything. It is nice, however, that the NYT chose to cover McCabe's lying. I suspect most readers had no idea he was such a prolific liar.
6
Whereas most readers have a very good idea of the Vesuvius of lies that continue to erupt from Trump’s maw.
5
It is way too late for Barr to show independence from Trump. Given Barr's gratuitous intrusion into the Mueller investigation findings, he should have immediately recused himself from any person or anything having the slightest connection to the Russia investigation. Instead his heavy handed intrusion continued and expanded to include his attempts to validate debunked conspiracy theories favored by Trump. Only Barr's resignation would begin to remove the taint he has inflicted on his office and the institutions he supervises.
208
@Robert O. William Barr should be disbarred.
28
And the tweet storm starts in . . . three . . . two . . . one . . .
2
When Democrats and their Deep State henchmen lie, they get off. Meanwhile, they want Stone in jail for 7-9 years. They want more time for Stone than convicted sex predator Weiner (2 years). Andrew McCabe is a treacherous deep state criminal. The bureaucracy is apparently above the law. I guess we'll just have to wait for the Durham report. When men like McCabe, Comey, Clapper and Brennan walk free, the swamp wins.
5
What makes you think Stone isn’t a sex predator? He’s been Trump’s buddy over 40 years. Roger Stone has all the dirt.
Trump has anointed himself "justice". Only there is no blindfold. He openly judges and castigates all those who have slighted him. And lo and behold....he goes after wives and children too. The coward part....is he has his human tools to dismiss, investigate while he stands on the White House podium tweeting his destruction. Next up....Mr Mueller.
5
Such baloney. Obviously the only reason he was not charged is that they couldn’t find any way to make charges stick. Anyone who believes they declined charges for any other reason is a credulous fool.
1
trump rails against perceived adversaries in the FBI with renewed gusto ... “bad cops” he calls them. These include a host of careered FBI professionals that he mercilessly pillories daily, incredulously accusing them openly of treason. Three of them (Mueller, Comey, McCabe) were long standing reputable FBI directors, two of which he fired outright and unceremoniously. In one case he accelerated timing the dismissal deliberately and callously to deny a life time pension. This despotic president is on a determined vengeful rampage to disembowel the FBI.
The testimony of the two senior FBI professionals (Strzok/Ohr) before a congressional committee serves as an exemplary model of decorum and respectfulness for the judicial process --- testify publicly, under oath, no 5th, no time limit, no limits on questions --- in striking contrast with trump’s hum and haw stalling with Mueller (and Don jr.’s despicable and cowardly avoidance tactics with Nadler). Hardly the expected behavior of someone who keeps asserting he has done nothing wrong.
McCabe should be exonerated fully from all of trump's unjustified pillorying, his reputation
restored. and full restitution of cancelled or suspended benefits. But this is hardly enough. trump should be sued for gross personal libel and penalized for unfairly and brazenly besmirching McCabe's character.
13
At least the country’s top lawyer has found the decency to pretend to care about respecting the law. It’s a start? What’s next, Pompeo behaving diplomatically? I actually found this reassuring for a moment, I breathed a little sigh of relief thinking, “see? The justice department still integrity.” This is when it hit me just how low the bar has been set. This is essentially how abusers operate: behave terribly until terrible becomes normal and then once in a while do something decent to keep their victims complacent.
8
This is evidence that the mass resignations of JD lawyers over the Stone sentencing might actually have been noticed by Barr.
8
This whole situation is so unbelievable and insane, in fact it’s starting to make me sound like a conspiracy theorist.
I just can’t believe from the history of Barr and Trump that they’re not still buddies working and scheming  together, and this isn’t some a strategic “push back”, meant to give the impression that Barr is independent.
8
Top notch intelligence official Dan Coats is out because Putin wanted him out, no question. It is the same reason Comey, McCabe, Strzok, and Ohr are out. They were all highly dedicated and effective national intelligence people who worked hard to counter and thwart aggressive Russian subversion. They are all innocent victims of trump's shift to a truly authoritative regime in the WH.
10
This decision by the DOJ should not be viewed as Barr abandoning his partisan proclivities. They didn’t decline charging McCabe out of a sense of good faith, it was a decision designed to deflect attention from the day-to-day partisanship practiced by Barr and his cronies. They knew the case against McCabe was specious, and that a McCabe acquittal would draw even more negative attention to their partisanship; so they decided the best course was to cut and run.
5
As soon as Biden drops out of the race, Barr will also announce that Biden "won't be charged" for his so-called crimes.
And then Barr will start investigating Bernie Sanders, Pete Buttigieg, and Mike Bloomberg.
But as long as Barr claims he wasn't "bullied" into investigating them, this newspaper will give Barr a pass.
8
Neat. William Barr does actually care about something: maintaining the illusion of independence from Trump’s demands.
If nothing else, Andrew McCabe deserves to have his legal fees reimbursed. In the before-times, Donald Trump used to have to spend his own money going after his foes. Now he has American tax dollars at his disposal.
“Mr. McCabe spent 21 years in the F.B.I., beginning his career in New York investigating Russian organized crime.”
Russia, Russia, Russia. Pravda!
9
Recall when trump unceremoniously fired FBI director Comey outright while he was on a field trip ... in a vengeful rage he blasted FBI officials for allowing Comey to return on an FBI executive jet. When trump is finally impeached and removed from office, no marine helicopter for him when he exits. Let him flag a cab.
9
@John Townsend
Let him walk.
3
But 34 trumpp associates charged or found guilty.
3
Wow.
Stone lies and obstructs Congress—serious prison time. Flynn lies, maybe—the FBI was divided on this—and looks at prison time.
McCabe leaks (also a crime) and lies to the FBI and Inspector General—nothing. Clapper lies to Congress—direct lies in response to direct questions—nothing.
There seem to be two standards here. A harsh one for Trump partisans and . . . Nothing at all for Democratic partisans.
Clearly hypocrisy comes from the left.
6
Hold on to your hats, trump could still tweet instructions to Barr and have the “case” re-opened.
Maybe trump will be smart enough to use his lan line this time...nah!
1
@trblmkr
See, I told you! He traded one sham McCabe “investigation” for one Flynn “investigation.”
Oh brother. The timing. Does anyone else feel Barr's fat fingers pushing buttons, trying to save a shred or two of his tanking reputation? Too late, Bill. Way too late.
9
Oh, please, Mr Barr. Do you also have some lovely ocean-front property in Kansas City for sale?
The ridiculous interview Barr gave yesterday was supposed to provide an after-the-fact smokescreen for Trump Administration Corruption.Exactly as the Impeachment defense went from, "he didn't do it," to "he didn't know he was doing it," to "he did it but it's legal," to "he did it, it was illegal and who cares?" it's Trump lackeys trying to clean up his mess.
Of course Trump pressured Barr to try to lighten Stone's sentence. Of course Barr complied. Jeff Sessions was an ineffectual patsy. Bill Barr has converted DOJ into Trump's pro bono legal hit squad, wrecking havoc on the lives of Trump's political enemies.
Bill Barr makes John Mitchell look like Atticus Finch.
5
Just a diversion to take a little heat off of Barr while he continues to go on his merry way corrupting justice by interfering in SDNY and other cases. Good for McCabe, but Barr (and Trump ) haven't changed, not one iota. Expect things to get worse very soon. With Trump and his lackeys they always have, always will.
8
Trump will reverse this decision later today.
2
If you lie to the FBI, you are in a lot of trouble. If the FBI lies to the FBI, the FBI is in a lot of trouble.
And we can’t have that now, can we?
4
And Trump will tweet to have Barr correct this in 3. . . 2. . . 1. . .
4
Poor, poor Donald.
Always the victim. He’s a victim of Adam Schiff. A victim of Nancy Pelosi. A victim of his own DOJ. He's a victim of his foul henchmen, Michael Cohen, Lev Parnas. He's a victim of all those women (23 at last count) who he has allegedly assaulted. He's a victim of the “fake news media.” He's a victim of the entire "establishment", whatever that is.
Everyone is out to get poor, poor Donald. His impeachment defense was so soggy with self-pity it weeps.
Trump has turned himself into a symbol of working class Americans’ victimization, telling those frustrated folks with little education and fewer prospects who crave easy answers that they’re being pushed around by immigrants, liberals, and women in pant suits.
His Dad gave him $400 million to play with and he still managed to bankrupt casinos. (How do you bankrupt a casino? Six times??) Is that really the sort of person Republicans want to emulate? Is that really the sort of person Republicans should feel sorry for?
“There has been no President in the history of our Country who has been treated so badly as I have.”
--Donald Trump, 9/25/19
10
None of the Democrat's deep state will ever be charged for anything, be it McCabe or Hunter Biden or anyone connected to the so-called "Democratic Party." Just as with the Communist party of China. You dare not even try.
5
Uh...who is it you think currently runs the Justice Department? Lenin?
7
This is so silly. What about Blagojevich?
@fhw61 Isn't he a Democrat that Trump is considering pardoning?
No surprise here. 'And take a look at this... (snap of fingers ala the Epoch Times commercials)' several other 'investigations' into anti Trump conspiracies have come to nothing recently. Clinton for instance had no part in the Uranium One case, a look into the Russia interference found no evidence of any improprieties on the part of Clinton as neither did a further probe of the emails (the emails again, OMG) reveal anything new. A great big nothing burger and this should all be exploited by the Dems as we move towards the election. Here's a link to just one report. https://www.salon.com/2020/01/10/investigation-into-hillary-clinton-pushed-by-trump-comes-up-empty-after-two-years-report/
2
Breaking news: Mr. Barr has appointed an outside prosecutor to "investigate" the prosecutors of the Flynn case. Indeed, McCabe's deserved good news is but a thin silver lining around the dark and gloomy cloud of AG Barr. Have we been teased? Have we been distracted from relentless deviousness and manipulation of our minds. Mr. Trump via of his AG can not be trusted. I thought that maybe, just maybe, at least Barr had a conscience to be awakened and redeemed. But I fear that is not the case. It is time for our prosecutors who work for the Department of (no) Justice stand up to this corruption run amok. They will have millions of Americans supporting them.
5
“Additionally, people who are charged with lying to the F.B.I. are typically accused of committing the offense in the course of a criminal investigation, not an administrative inquiry.”
Micheal Flynn and his attorneys may vehemently disagree with that claim. He was not a subject of a criminal investigation when he was charged with lying to the FBI.
3
Nice try, but there was in fact a criminal investigation going on.
2
@Robert
No, there wasn’t. There was a counterintelligence investigation, and he wasn’t a target...until he spoke with the Russian Ambassador and then was interviewed in the White House by the FBI. Those are the facts.
It would be outrageous if Trump bully AG William Barr would haul Andrew McCabe to court for lying! Why does not the Senate or AG Barr drag a lying President in front of the Supreme Court and Chief Justice John Roberts?
The Senate trial did not qualify even as a mere show trial!
Where in any prudent justice system are evidence excluded by the jurors (=Senate Republicans). And jurors decide on beforehand to cut the trial short and proceed more or less directly to a priorly agreed acquittal! Can this be called a trial instead of rubber stamping?
How can the Supreme Court Chief Justice preside over such juridical travesty without even trying to provide prudish-juridical steering?
I was aligned earlier with GOP moderates but no more. Watching in horror how American Democratic Vanguards and institutions are clamped down on and slowly silenced. Yearning for and waiting for the GOP to be Made Great Again!
3
Only the normal people have to face the lawlessness of their actions. We break a law we pay the price. Government connected people get a pass. Then the high and mighty wonder why we the people are getting fed up with this double standard. The left wonders why Trump won last time. This kind of double standard is why. Watch what happens this next election.
5
@cdt
Trump has spent his entire career defaulting on loans, failing to pay contractors and workers, hiring illegals, avoiding taxes, bragging about how rich he is while downplaying any real estate value to lower his property taxes, and all this with an inheritance of 400 million dollars from a father who finagled his taxes as well! And you claim Tump was elected to clean up corruption? Rich people or supposedly rich people are the ones who get a pass!
3
Question for the lawyers out there - if Mr. Trump continues to tweet out or speak out attacks on Mr. McCabe after this decision, can Mr. McCabe sue him for defamation of character? Stalking?
6
Yes, he can sue Trump. You can sue Trump. It doesn’t mean you have a case. It doesn’t mean that you will collect a dime.
I remember all the uproar when Bill Clinton, retired president, had a private conversation with Loretta Lynch, AG on a plane which every Republican politician jumped as a totally unacceptable contact because they were sure he was talking to her about a Hillary investigation. Now, with a Republican president publically and unashamedly trying to put the press on the Justice Department, all those Republican voices are mum. Surprise, surprise.
10
@joanno
I keep saying hypocrisy should be painful. If it were the republicans wouldn't be able to get up off the floor
4
I certainly hope he will now be given all his due retirement funds which were taken away when he was fired just hours before his retirement date.....
8
To be accurate, this is about an IG statement that Andrew McCabe was "less than candid". It's only his detractors, and the so-little-nuance-left-they-sound-like-computers Press. "Less than candid," means less than candid, "lying" means lying. If we don't start having a press that knows the difference soon, we're going to be a dictatorship by November. Shape up, press, I'd like to cast a vote not run from the DOJ in November, please.
2
Yet another example of Presidential interference in the workings of the DOJ. How much money was spent, how many billable hours of investigation time and lawyer time was spent? This is a common gripe of Trump, so why did he gen up this case to begin with when there was in the end nothing to prosecute?
Impeach now.
2
Reinstate his benefits. McCabe earned them.
7
Isn't it time to charge Trump with lying after 16,000 public lies? No wonder he refuses to testify under oath, he would have been locked up long ago.
8
The decision in the McCabe case is probably a prelude to a similar decision in the Michale Flynn case. Flynn was indicted for lying to two FBI interviewers about his transition-period conversations with the Russian ambassador. Flynn asked the court for permission to withdraw his confession after his attorney discovered proof that an FBI official revised the agent’s report to make it look as though Flynn intentionally lied. The agents actually reported that they thought Flynn had not intentionally lied to them. Like McCabe, Flynn had no motive to lie. There was nothing unlawful about his conversations with the Russian ambassador.
2
@William Case
Don't conflate Flynn's case with McCabe's.
They are not at all similar.
Nice try though. Poorly played.
6
@Futbolistaviva
Turns out I was right. The New York Times just reported that the Justice Department is reviewing the Flynn prosecution/
Let’s not miss the reality of the situation.
For Trump and Republicans in Congress, the investigation itself, with the accompanying presidential tweets inciting threats and violence, expense and stress, IS the retribution.
When do these fake accusations end?
7
So everybody's happy when McCabe is not prosecuted, but everybody's unhappy when Barr names an unbiased prosecutor to review and oversee the mess that the Flynn prosecution has turned into.
I am sick to death of confirmation bias.
Just let Barr do his job.
5
@Frank
Frank if you think Barr is appointing an unbiased prosecutor immune from political influence I've got bridges in the Sahara you would be very interested in.
5
Andrew McCabe, I am so happy for the recent ruling that you won't be charged for trumped up accusations. Now I hope DOJ will do the right thing and make sure you get your pension. You deserve that and more!!
7
At some point, which we may or may not have reached, Mr. Barr has to realize he is making a record for himself which will be part of the eventual American history of the current period. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren will read about him, and make judgments about whether he behaved as something more than another fearful tool for an obviously benighted president to use and discard on a whim. (Mr. Barr might care to examine, as a guide, what historians have had to say about Nixon's John Mitchell.)
So far, not so good, Mr. Barr, but there still my be room for some degree of reputation recovery.
5
@Carl worst take ever.
Mr. Barr has been very clear from his testimony and actions that he is opposed to using the criminal justice apparatus in support of political conflict. He is preventing a civil war and will be lionized for so doing
Mr. McCabe and his family are not yet in the clear.
President Trump will soon be issuing some angry, vindictive tweets against McCabe calling for renewed government action against him.
Mr. McCabe needs and deserves government-provided security protection to counter any possible attacks against him emanating from these tweets -- now and for the foreseeable future.
12
So, this is either an effort by Attorney General William Barr to give Trump a stroke (so that Barr can serve the equally loathsome Pence) or--in a more likely explanation--an effort to throw us off the scent of all the corruption that Barr and Trump have brought to what was once known as the Department of Justice. Lest we forget, Barr has taken control of all investigations and the ones into Trump allies such as Giuliani have been stopped. Senator Gillibrand has already said that Barr should be impeached. This is no time to exhale.
10
I suppose it is possible-- maybe not likely, but possible-- that Barr's protests that Trump's meddling in DOJ business was making his job 'impossible', were actually intended as a genuine warning to Trump, and not just code for 'leave me alone and I'll do the dirty work for you.' I suspect Trump Supervolcano is going to blast out a big one in the next few hours, mostly hot gas; sound and fury signifying nothing.
Somebody has to do something. Collins was right: he learned a lesson-- that he's above the law and free to do whatever he wants. The DOJ, the divisional and departmental IGs, the Joint Chiefs, and the Federal Judiciary, first and foremost Chief Roberts have to grow some spine, and fast. The senate could show a small glint of character by rejecting the spectacularly unqualified Fed nominee Judy Shelton. That would be a start. The Deep State is not deep at all. It's a foot deep and a mile wide. Time for more patriots like Vindman to step up.
6
I'm very glad McCabe was not charged! I hope he gets to collect his full pension that he deserves. Trump is so vindictive. He is the one that should be charged with many crimes. When he doesn't get re-elected he will have to face some serious charges. This is a very important election coming up and I hope the voters will be smart enough to realize all the harm that Trump has done and continues to do to our Constitution and Laws.
5
Just moments ago Barr installed an outside prosecutor to review Michael Flynn's conviction. Barr's turning over a new leaf didn't last 24 hours.
12
Just smoke to cover the light recently shone on Barr's own Trumpian corruption. He figures to do things for Trump in yet even darker quarters moving forward. My father who is old enough to have lived through WWII as a youngster said recently that he's seen much throughout his life with corruption, fear, lies, wars for profit, and incompetence in our government but he never felt that there was a curtain of authoritarian darkness descending on us. His remarks came last week after Barr reduced the sentencing guidelines for Stone. I feel he is right. I'm old enough myself to remember Vietnam, Watergate, Iran Contra, S&L, and of course the war in Iraq. My father is right, nothing else has felt quite like this. Especially considering Trump has a strong following of angry, violent, well armed, and well trained people that are itching to and have committed violence and murder seemingly on his behalf.
7
Glad to hear the persecution of Andrew McCabe has ended.
I hope he wins his lawsuit to recover his pension.
Donald Trump should not have the power to ruin people's lives for petty personal reasons.
It's a tragedy for this country that this man is president.
And Attorney General Barr is nothing to be proud of.
5
We can now know without a doubt what trump will do with DOJ if he's re-elected. It will be his tool to punish enemies and reward friends. In Russia it's called telephone justice - the judge calls the Kremlin before deciding cases.
6
"Attorney General William P. Barr wants to show that the Justice Department is independent from Mr. Trump" Let me re-phrase that:
Barr realizes that after caving to Trump about Stone's sentence, he can't do it again here or risk losing his entire staff.
Fixed it!
9
Some animals are still more equal than others.
Cue articles claiming surprise that Bernie and Donald are popular.
3
I am doing my utmost to fight off becoming too weary with this POTUS and his Administration tweeting out, and shouting out their many lies to the many millions of us American voters every day.
I will not allow myself to become too complacently weary even as they throw the wrong puzzle pieces on the news shows to mess with our brains.
I am figuring them out and I do believe that
Many other Americans are figuring out what they are doing by the very nature of them
Moving the puzzle pieces around, often times more than once a day. Even his supporters are witnessing this democracy melting down. Nov. 2020 is going to be deliciously good when we show up at voting booths en masse with their puzzle completed, framed, and prepared for voting All Of Those Crooks Out Of Office!
Or we are kinda doomed, my fellow American Citizens!
No room for complacency!
ZIP! NADA! BUPKIS!
4
While they say “We are pleased that Andrew McCabe and his family can go on with their lives without this cloud hanging over them.”, there is no doubt that Trump is happy that he has destroyed the career and family of McCabe. Trump got his pound of flesh, so now he can move on to other victims of his bullying.
3
McCabe lies and leaks and walks. Stone lies and gets 9 years.
4
Isn't it refreshing to see the U.S. Attorney General decide to TRY to stay out of prison?!
Mind you, no one with a brain thinks the latest scratching we're hearing coming from Barr's litter box is going to successfully cover up all his stink, but I'm taking from it a very tiny bit of hope that the dam's showing weakness.
I join in solidarity with all Americans who do earnestly hope our country will survive what can only be described as a very long, very scary, national nightmare.
4
Oh, come on. This is just another episode of “ The Presidential Apprentice “.
Seriously.
3
What was it Trump said, re: Roger Stone, about Democrats being horrible and vindictive and destroying people's lives?
3
Good timing to drop a case that most likely lacked any merit to begin with. This is nothing but attempt by Barr to show that he's even handed.
6
Latest is that Barr is reopening the case against Flint!! So much for thinking things had taken a turn for the better. This is where Barr planned to go.
2
Color me skeptical that Barr has found reason in these latest cases. Maybe the 4 prosecutors who stepped away from the Stone debacle are indicative of a larger revolt occurring at Justice?
4
Problem is, the same office of politicized lawyers who persecuted Roger Stone then gave McCabe a pass. Is the DOJ even interested in appearances?
2
Barr just assigned a prosecutor to look into Flynn's case, so this particular event is just more smoke and mirrors. Barr is a made man for Trump.
5
By dropping charges against McCabe, the DOJ is preparing the way for Trump to pardon Roger Stone.
Being too cynical?
5
The problem here is that the majority of Trump supporters don't read the NYT or WaPo. The reasons why McCabe walks and Stone deserves prison are lost on them. They only see red vs. blue.
The 10% of Americans who do read these publications (call us the illuminati, elites, whatever you want) aren't enough to sway an election.
When a full 40% of voters hear Trump's simplified version of McCabe vs Stone, or the version served up on Fox they'll insist justice isn't being fairly served.
How do we, as libs, as Dems, fight against an untrue, but far easier-to-understand narrative presented by Fox / Conservatives?
The Russian people at least knew Pravda was always lying. Half the American public by and large believes the Fox version of the news. A President who lies non-stop combined with a news outlet that bolsters and amplifies his lies is a powerful enemy to the truth, and to America.
19
@Wade Nelson Continue referring to yourself as the illuminati, the elites, whatever you want. Have you settled on the insulting term to use for "them" as you tell "them" how wrong they are?
NYT: "Additionally, people who are charged with lying to the F.B.I. are typically accused of committing the offense in the course of a criminal investigation, not an administrative inquiry." Hard to square this with the Gen. Flynn prosecution.
4
NYT making same error as Jeffrey Toobin today. Barr didn't say the Trump tweets and comments were making it harder to do his job, he said they made it impossible. Big difference. In the general election I can imagine an anti-Trump ad showing Barr making this complaint to illustrate how unfit Trump is.
Laughable that Barr might think this a "sign of DOJ independence" from Trump's vindictive paranoia.
Two years delayed Justice and Barr wants kudos.? Not happening.
3
The cloud is still there, Barr.
5
If only the Assistant US Attorneys were as lenient as these investigators. Perjury is still a really big deal to them, as we've seen in the charges against Trump associates. We rarely hear about a "lack of intent" except in the case of high profile government figures.
If only all Americans were treated this kindly.
2
Thank you for your service to our country Mr. McCabe. You and Sally Yates are among the best.
44
The media has to stop talking about "partisan" bias.
There are now two sides in the country. One side believes in the rule of law, in evidence and facts, in NOT being biased. That first side believes that it is corrupt to use the justice department and courts to prosecute your critics and asking for lenient sentences for friends. That side has Democrats, Independents, and even some lifetime Republicans (although the Republican party seems to have expelled them from their party).
The other side believes in Trump uber alles. Whatever is good for Trump is legal and proper. That means prosecuting Trump's critics and political rivals is fine. That means the law is what Trump says it is. That means when an Attorney General gets caught, he gives a self-serving interview proclaiming that his improper actions to protect Trump's convict pal are about showing how "independent" he is.
There are people who believe in the Constitution and people who now say that if a Republican is President, he can do anything he wants to anyone he wants.
By only referring to these two groups simply as "partisans", this newspaper is writing misleading and inaccurate news articles that are much closer to propaganda than journalism.
Stop it.
54
Doing the right thing for the wrong reasons is not okay.
Conservatives are going to point to this as evidence that Barr isn’t in Trump’s pocket. But it’s not. It’s evidence that Barr is a tactician who recognized that in order to avoid the appearance of being a partisan loyalist, he would have to give something up in order to win a greater victory later. Say... challenging the State of NY’s inquiries regarding Michael Cohen’s coverup payments to Stephanie Clifford.
Remember that? The only reason Trump wasn’t indicted by the SDNY on the same felony counts as Michael Cohen is because of the OLC memo that says federal justice department officials can’t indict the president.
But the State of NY’s state attorneys are now investigating. Which will set up an eventual fight between the executive branch, and the State of NY, over the limits of executive power. This is when Barr’s loyalty will pay its dividends. This is also when Gorsuch and Kavanaugh will be able to get their “revenge.”
Dark times lie ahead.
36
@Austin Ouellette If you’re talking about the OLC defense for releasing Trump’s tax returns, Judge Victor Marrero of Federal District Court in Manhattan ruled against the OLC in Trump v. Cyrus Vance:
“ the DOJ Memos lose persuasive force because their analysis and conclusions derive not from a real case
presenting real facts but instead from an unqualified abstract doctrine conclusorily asserting generalized
principle.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/07/nyregion/trump-taxes-lawsuit-vance.html
https://int.nyt.com/data/documenthelper/1878-07nytrump-ruling/3febb8a88a32dc2e6521/optimized/full.pdf
1
While Mr. McCabe loses his pension and is hounded for two years for what he called a moment of confusion under stress, the man in the White House claims complete exoneration after repeated lawless overtures to foreign powers for help with his election and re-election. History will not be kind to us for electing this man.
71
@Partha Neogy
Any way he can have his pension restored?
5
@Partha Neogy
"a moment of confusion under stress"
******
Nice way of saying "lied". Hardly an exoneration. More likely "not worth prosecuting."
1
The Beatles said it best "Let it be, Let it be...Speaking words of wisdom, let it be." Congratulations Andy. Thank you for your noble service.
17
Given the President asserts he has the legal right to interfere in criminal investigations, what would prevent Trump from directing that the case be re-opened or that an indictment be issued? Or maybe Trump will fall out of love with Bill Barr and start to denigrate him like Trump did with Jeff Sessions, eventually moving on to an even more pliant sycophant as Attorney General.
The Constitution is only as good as the willingness of those in power to adhere to mutually agreed upon norms. Remember when Republicans were apoplectic that Obama was operating an Imperial Presidency because of his issuance of executive orders? (As well as bleating that Obama was demeaning the Presidency by wearing a tan suit, putting his feet on a coffee table in Oval Office, and playing too much golf?) Now Republicans are enabling the transformation of the Presidency into an office accountable to no one. Four more years of Trump, and the norms that undergird the Constitution may be shredded beyond repair.
27
@IMS
Yeah. Trump could replace Barr with Ken Starr who did a one-eighty in his opinion on impeachment after his year of trying to get Clinton on anything he could come up with, or Pam Bondi who dropped investigation of fraud by Trump University after Trump's foundation made a major donation to her re-election campaign!
1
Perhaps AG Barr is intelligent enough to understand that there is a distinct possibility that Donald Trump will eventually go down in flames (and shame ) once everything about him is revealed. And in the interest of his self preservation ,this is a very good time for the Attorney General to create some boundaries publicly. He is already neckdeep in the stench and toxicity of Donald Trump, and Barr has effectively become the Roy Cohn that Trump has been looking for now for over three years.
I wonder what it feels like to have sold one’s soul in exchange for power for a brief period of time?
32
“The lack of charges is likely to anger Mr. Trump“
So in other words, DOUBLE the good news!
26
@Jeremy T
Sorry I can only recommend your post once! Thanks for the chuckle.
6
This article didn't say whether Mr. McCabe plans to sue the federal government for his pension and/or damages.
11
@Bob
He should be happy they cut him a break. He lied. They gave him an out for "lack of intent". That's better than most Americans get.
1
@Bob
He already has. I think it was last fall.
3
@Bob I thought he sued in August, 2019.
1
There should be no such crime as "Lying to the FBI" or any other Investigators.
The very worst people in our country, are those who think that Police State activity is OK for the political party on the other side of the aisle, but not for their party.
In recent times, we have seen both Democrats and Republican parties engaging in this behavior, with the media cheering them on. Police State activity is never a good thing - no exceptions!
Why does it take a necessity to reduce political heat to cancel this "witch hunt"?
Justice in the Trump era I guess.
3
I demand an investigation into this investigation. In fact I don't even think we can trust our government to run this investigation, I think we need an outsider, perhaps Rudy Giuliani to run it.
1
And now he should get his pension back, have his legal costs paid, and receive compensation for the emotional stress he and his family must certainly have suffered from what was obviously from the start a vindictive and politically motivated action by the criminal in the White House.
36
It is amazing that we are so happy about what was clear from the start: There was no there there. That it took the AG office this long to figure it out is disgraceful. This is a freebie for our Vicar General Barr. Unless he walked that dog of a case into court himself, he very likely could not have found anyone who would, particularly if the rest of his staff has the backbone and ethical standards evidenced by the Stone Four. So he prepares the ground by his "impossible" comment, then does what had to be done to show he meant it. Poppycock. He will either return to the Trump line or he will be tweet-fired.
14
McCabe was chump change to Trump. The one Trump really wants is Comey who he blames for the Mueller investigation. Let's see how independent Bill Barr is then.
20
Give this man the pension he earned.
39
McCabe is not guilty. We all knew that. How much money was wasted on this Witch Hunt? Hopefully he now gets his well deserved pension retroactively.
22
No charges were brought thank God. But let's not forget that the President successfully ordered a sham investigation into his political enemies including McCabe and Comey.
We have become a banana republic.
23
This vindication should have occurred two years ago. It happened today so that Barr can pretend to be independent of Trump. What a farce. Now that it is public knowledge that McCabe did nothing wrong, he should be reinstated so that he can qualify for the pension he earned through his many years of faithful service to the American people.
18
Barr is feeling the heat from his attorneys . It is time for the American Bar Association to organize a Lawyers March on Washington to protest the corruption of Atty. Gen. William Barr.
25
I CHOOSE to conclude, by this action, that the DOJ cannot find appropriate grounds for con tinting Trump's attack against McCabe. I CHOOSE to believe that McCabe is innocent and that this entire thing was political on behalf of Impeached Donald John Trump - our national disgrace.
We will probably never know the inner working of this case, as is so with anything in the Trump administration. Barr is totally partisan and a Trump TOADIE, but he's not stupid like his boss. Backing off on illegitimate cases such as this at strategic times, while continuing to undermine the rule of law in the shadows, is an effective technique for the Republican destruction of this nation.
It may be quite some time, if ever, before we can rely upon our DOJ again as an independent agent of justice. Trump has corrupted this nation so horribly, with endless lies and perversions, that people have little reason to believe anything out of D.C.
This fits perfectly in Putin's agenda. Please don't forget that little fact and that Trump has all but endorsed Vladimir as his mentor and co-conspirator -- and he will do so in this election, for sure.
13
“ Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions dismissed Mr. McCabe hours before he was eligible for those benefits, a move many saw as vindictive.”
“Many”? Are you kidding?
21
@Doug Lowenthal
Multitudes? Everyone? Every sane and patriotic American?
7
Yes, “many”. What word would you choose?
1
@Doug Lowenthal yeah, more like "majority."
7
I am really sorry that Mr. McCabe and his family had to suffer through this for two years, not to mention what legal bills he faces. But given this outcome, shouldn't he be reinstated, at least long enough to qualify for his pension?
136
@Ellen Freilich
Yes, it's terrible that someone who perjured himself would be treated so shabbily, right?
2
@Ellen Freilich No.
@AACNY Mr. McCabe is in the clear. He had no intent or motive to lie. The president, on the other hand, is safe. He constantly lies, but is careful never to show up when his testimony would have to be under oath. He operates - not above the law exactly - but outside of it.
5
We have Barr's interview and this ONE ruling. Barr's overall record remains abysmal. Call me skeptical.
92
It's not unfounded skepticism. It is logic. Bar and the DOJ as well as Donald Trump have no say is the sentencing.
It is wholly up to the judge, whom Stone threateningly depicted behind cross hairs. Bar coming out and pushing for lower sentencing is wholly out of place and only serves to benefit Donald Trump.
4
This is Kabuki. There never was enough evidence to charge Mr. McCabe. If Barr (who should be disbarred)interfered in
Stone’s sentence and prosecuted McCabe on zero evidence it would have been clear to many more people that America no longer has a Department of Justice. We have a Department of Injustice.
65
McCabe gambled to protect his reputation, played the crusader to take on the POTUS publicly while in the FBI, and lost his job. He should be happy he keeps his freedom.
3
@MDP The only way this could be better would be if the President lost his freedom for abusing his authority.
30
@MDP Details, please.
11
@MDP
A grand jury refused to hand down an indictment against McCabe, meaning the prosecutor was unable to make his case. Refusing to indict is incredibly rare. It’s been said a good prosecutor could get a grand jury to indict a ham sandwich.
So are you saying the grand jury system is flawed and should be ignored?
A jury found Roger Stone guilty. But apparently it was biased and no one understood the charges, according to our President. Are we to ignore that judgment too?
164
Justice done! Hopefully, the nation is fed up with Trump’s dishonest attempts to settle scores through prosecution of his perceived political enemies by the Justice Department. Andrew McCabe deserves his pension and hopefully he will get it.
47
McCabe not being charged is also vindication of the FBI's investigation in 2016 into whether his campaign conspired with Russia’s election interference operation.
26
McCabe wrote, "Trump's fearMr. Mueller’s investigation raised “questions about the legitimacy of his presence in the White House — questions that prompt fear” in Mr. Trump."
Any fear of Trump is about his money. Speaking of money, since the charges are dropped, will McCabe's retirement be restored?
15
Sometimes the U.S. Justice system works out for the best. Happy for Mr McCabe, he can now move on in his life, but will he get the pension that our despicable president has denied him? And should the president be forced to pay McCabe’s legal fees?
So glad I purchased Mr McCabe’s book, looking forward to the next book he writes.
I’m convinced he is an honorable man.
35
Slap lawsuits at its finest. McCabe did his job to probe criminal activities and his reward? 2 years of finances lost defending himself against a bully POTUS.
We need laws protecting this kind of suits, the person suing should provide the cost of lawyer chosen by defender. Make it happen people!!!
24
Angry tweets from the very stable genius will soon commence. Now, please reinstate Deputy Director McCabe's pension.
42
Duh!
He performed his constitutional duty.
14
We live in a weird “fascist dictatorship” where only the “Dictator’s” family, friends and associates get hounded and persecuted and jailed, but none of his opponents.
2
@JQGALT
We live in a country governed by laws where people who commit crimes get prosecuted.
Whose fault is it that the president's family, friends and associates commit crimes, and the people who investigated them did not commit crimes?
The president should feel grateful that Ivanka wasn't prosecuted for her e-mail "crimes". We know that Trump says not using government servers for e-mails is a very bad crime unless a Republican does it.
11
@JQGALT no, you live in a dictorship that still has some basis in facts and law.
Trumps attacks on McCabe were not based on facts.
Trumps 'friends and associates' have been tried and convicted on facts and evidence.
3
@JQGALT His opponents get death threats so I guess it's even.
1
Yesterday I thought we saw a false flag operation, but the other shoe may have dropped today. Let's see how POTUS reacts and if the AG really has had it up to.. so there! Reminds me of the goose that laid golden eggs, and how we dealt with them in the old days, like spies...
2
A good day for America.
10
All the wasted time in our already over burdened judicial system just to appease trumps political witch hunts. Sad.
21
If you lie to the FBI, you will go to jail. If you lie to the FBI and are in the senior ranks of the FBI, you skate.
It is now crystal clear to us that are not in the FBI.
4
@J House
What do you consider the proper punishment for a so-called president who lies repeatedly about everything?
4
@J House
If you have committed no crime, and are being questioned by the FBI and the FBI misinterprets something you said incorrectly, and upon learning that you tell the FBI that they misinterpreted something incorrectly and make the truth known, that isn't a "lie".
I am shocked that an American would demand that a person who committed no crime be thrown in jail if the FBI misinterprets something they say or if they misunderstand what the question is.
People who lie CONTINUE to lie when something incorrect they say is pointed out to them. Like Trump.
People who inadvertently said something that wasn't true because they misunderstood the question simply correct what they said. Like McCabe.
Remember, McCabe did nothing wrong so the notion that his real crime was that he "lied to the FBI" about doing nothing wrong is absurd.
Ironically, what McCabe legally did was to leak a story that HELPED Donald Trump win! Clearly McCabe didn't lie to the pro-Trump FBI agents about doing something that Trump was happy about.
Trump wants to smear McCabe because Trump is desperate to say that Russia is totally innocent and the FBI should never investigate Russian interference.
I know that people who want Putin to run the USA want to protect Putin, but patriotic Americans are glad the FBI investigated Russia.
6
specious
How long before Barr and/or Trump overturn this decision made by sinister "deep state" bureaucrats whose disgusting dedication to the rule of law knows no bounds?
9
Excellent!!
12
Too little too late.
This administration is a disgrace.
Nothing the DoJ can do now can change that.
34
...but of course, Justice is blind, right?
Unless you are one of the “peasants”, in which case you might as well cop a plea, and prepare to go to prison.
To think only 2 administrations ago, liberals believed in civil liberties and eschewed corrupt Intel and Law Enforcement
2
Wm Barr is a fool if he thinks he can escape Trump's wrath……..
He and Trump may be playing games right now with us the public…….
But
Trump's the scorpion and Barr's the frog -
Just like in the old Scorpion and the Frog fable…….
Trusting Donald Trump in anything is to play a fool's game…...
11
@RB
A great metaphor, but Barr's a toadie, not a frog. Nevertheless, he'll be stung.
2
Double standard justice. Plain ans simple. Then everyone in Washington wonders why the people of the US don't trust those in government!
3
Barr is trying to shut the barn door after all the horses have left. It is too late to repair the damage.
25
Lying?! Is that the White House or the Glass House?
5
Actually the decision to not charge McCabe was made by the same office that recommended 7-9 years in prison for Stone. It all depends which side you are on when you break the law. The law does not apply to the resistance, They are the law.
8
You mean the office that changed its recommendation on a Stone after Trump complained?
7
Really? Stone goaded investigators and lied and defied a Judges order and threatened a witness. He was convicted of all this by a jury.
Where was McCabe’s crime exactly?
14
@Daphne Stone was quite guilty and in fact has committed many uncharged offenses over the years. McCabe did nothing wrong at all.
11
I hope this will be the first step in Mr. McCabe receiving the retirement benefits he deserves. This entire episode was unnecessary and vindictive on Trump's part. While what has been done to Mr. McCabe can't be taken back, there is a remedy for his mistreatment, and that's to reverse his firing and see that he is allowed to retire with his full benefits.
As for Mr. Trump, only our votes can remedy that situation, and only if there is no cheating.
576
@LJ
Well it'd be unrealistic not to expect cheating. We all expect it. Let's not be naive. It's how Trump lives his life.
Let's focus on doing what is necessary, whatever that may be, to beat Trump.
Fight fire with fire as my old mum used to say.
42
@LJ
I think this decision was made when Trump's Air Force One parked next to AG Barr's Volkswagen Bug last night. Could happen?
16
@LJ It's precisely because only out votes can remedy the (Trump) situation that there will be cheating.
11
Is it too much to hope that any further investigation of the Bidens will be called off as well?
28
@Jay Orchard
Nope. If there is a nugget of glee for Trump he'll go for it.
6
@Jay Orchard There is currently no investigation of the Bidens. To start one you need evidence of some crime.
2
@Jay Orchard
Dream On!
It’s possible that these Barr-appointed “investigators of the investigators”, in their pursuit of McCabe, Comey, and the Russia investigation writ large, started stumbling upon “inconvenient truths” about pre-candidate Trump.
Let’s not forget that trump has had dealings with some pretty unsavory characters over the years. For all we know the FBI already had a fat file on him and numerous alarms went off when he came down the escalator and announced his candidacy.
45
I hope McCabe can now get his full pension. He and his family have been brutalized by trump for way too long.
92
@Avidreader
I believe that he only needs a day or two to qualify. Barr could do this to wrap it up.
6
Don' be fooled by Barr. He's not standing up to Trump. But he sure would like us to believe that. Pure political theater.
90
@the oracle
Right out of the carnival barkers handbook.
Step right up ladies and gentlemen! Watch AG Barr speak! " Stop tweeting so much your majesty. "( was that right Mr.President Sir?)
4
@the oracle
Think of all of these people as family members. How would you judge them?
AG Barr?
I see him as the long suffering, henpecked husband of your rich aunt. She has the money so she calls the shots. He goes along because he likes the money and doesn't want to be poor.
Trump?
He's that rich old aunt that threatens disinherit you if you don't live life her way.
Bloomberg?
He's the uncle you go to for advice because you trust him and he listens and doesn't steer you or anyone else wrong.
Sanders?
The crazy, old uncle who you hope doesn't show up for Thanksgiving or if he does, doesn't sit near you.
Bloomberg 2020.
1
So, when a citizen lies, they get the slammer. When a government hack lies, he skates. Talk about a double standard!
If you work for the government, you are royalty...above the law. and the peons.
6
@Richard K
Read the article. He had permission to talk to the press and thus no motivation to intentionally lie.
Yeesh!
8
@Richard K , plenty of government officials who lie go to jail every week. You have no idea what you are saying. And remember Trump lies several times a day. If any government official should be in the slammer, it is him.
9
@Richard K I agree. 16,000 days in the slammer for Trump. One day for every lie. Sounds fair.
10
This won't stop trump from attacking him.
14
The dropped the case simply because they had no case. Period.
60
"...With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds...
(from a Republican president's inaugural speech, for his 2nd term)
5
@W in the Middle... Quite possibly among the greatest speeches ever written by an American politician.
2
You’re a comedian, right.
A superlative under handed concession to Mr. Barr's contriteness to trump's accolades for his (Barr) "doing a job well done". Inform us, please Mr. Barr, when you start doing your job. Period.
12
I have to wonder whether Trump et. al. was worried about what would come out during a trial.
21
And I guess it also means Roger Stone will not go to prison. Because if an "evil critic of Trump" is not thrown into the dungeon he belongs, how could one of Trump's dearest accomplices be incarcerated?
4
Stone was found guilty by his own peers. The case was strong. Off to jail. No Trump pardon for Stone. Trump wants a lower jail term. Why? Because if he pardoned Stone he could then be called to testify. No pleading the fifth. If he lies on the stand he goes back to jail. Thus Trump is scared he will tell all.
Maybe if he gets 8 years he will make a deal. Tell all and parole early.
Trump is worried.
2
@Alberto
Good point! I hadn’t thought about it in those terms, but I bet you’re right. It’s not an even trade, though, because McCabe’s “transgressions” are virtually harmless than those of Roger Stone’s.
,
1
@Len
. . . Stone could then be called to testify! Oooh, very good to know.
3
Tump is not fit for president of the USA.
Tump has misused his powers as president and will continue to do so to get reelected because once he is out of office he will have to spend the rest of his life in court proceedings.
Although Bill Maher may be right when he says Tump will not leave office. He will invent a crisis and declare some sort of an emergency or something of that sort. It is either that scenario or spend or his time and money fighting law suits.
The FBI should pay back the money they owe Mr McCabe.
25
I think we all knew this was coming.
I look at it this way It's doesn't mater if McCabe was after Trump, he could go after any private citizen just like you.
The underlying issue is they're Rouge Lawyers at the DOJ doing their Best to get promoted.
If they go after you and your family with manufactured evidence who cares about you anyway and they can do this to anyone of US. Your just another stepping stone on their way to Government Glory and big Retirement.
This beyond a show of a doubt speaks volumes THEY always take care of THEIR Own, don't THEY...!!!
3
After the his and his colleagues performance, maybe they can just disband the FBI.
7
@Matt , why? As a criminal defense attorney who used to fight against them on individual cases, I found almost all of them extremely professional and dedicated to keeping us safe regardless of my differences with them on particular cases. Most of them are hard-working selfless public servants making far less than people in the private sector.
2
If Barr and Durham are doing their jobs, Comey and Brennan will not be as fortunate.
3
@Susan , why name one piece of incriminating evidence about them? Why are you making false allegations without proof? All Trump supporters do is making up contrived accusations against people.
2
Too late. Barr’s reputation as a Trump yesman is already done.
He’ll be forever attached to Trump corruption of justice.
33
Good! Maybe there will be more truth tellers.
2
Justice for McCabe but I don't trust Barr one iota.
34
So if Trump tweets about this will Barr resign? Or will Barr be shown to be a man lacking integrity whose words are meaningless?
10
@The Real New Jersey Trump already did. Trump today said he has every right to intervene in criminal cases. I'm not sure he doesnt, it's just a long held tradition to separate.
The Justice Department is independent again? Yea, sure. I say keep pressure on Barr forever. He is as corrupt as Trump, but articulates and bamboozles. He talks with the careful precision of a lawyer. But if you parse his language, he is very deceptive.
21
Lucky McCabe! Barr has to prove he wasn’t a complete tool of Trump so he let McCabe off.
Of course, McCabe is an outstanding public servant who was a already royally mistreated by Trump and his henchmen. Someone should set up a go fund me page to make up for the pension he lost only weeks before he was to retire.
11
Correction - he was fired mere hours before he was eligible for his pension in order to maximize the cruelty of his dismissal.
3
@ScottC Hours, not weeks.
2
If the Dems get in I hope the new President appoints McCabe as FBI Director back where he should be after the beat-up by Trump.
9
@Realworld
Brennan has discredited himself and his organization. The fact that Trump's critics choose to lionize him has little to do with his innocence.
1
Twitter tirade to start in 5,4,3,2...
Thank you for putting this issue to rest. The fact this career FBI employee was fired a day before his retirement speaks volumes about the current state of this (mis)Adminstration.
21
@Ramie
McCabe was 49 years old when he was fired. He did *not*lose his pension.
“What he lost out on was ... the ability to take his benefits at age 50, rather than somewhere between age 57 and age 62, and he lost his eligibility to a special top-up in benefit formula. These are, admittedly, tangible financial losses, but it is grossly misleading that various news outlets are giving the general public the impression that he has lost his pension entirely.” https://www.forbes.com/sites/ebauer/2018/03/17/no-andrew-mccabe
How many private citizens get to retire with pumped benefits at age 50?
1
@Marcus Aurelius
I didn't say that he "lost" his pension. But thanks for the info.
It’s about time justice has finally been done here. Yet the poor man has lost his pension and been unfairly pilloried by Trump’s minions and The Fox Hounds because Trump insisted he must be guilty of something without any evidence. His family has also been through the wringer all because of the Malignant Narcissist in the Oval, aided and abetted by Pious Pence. Utterly Shameful.
26
@Rose
He did lose his pension. He was 49 years old when fired. He lost the ability to take his pension, plus some pumped up benefits, at age 50. Instead, he has to wait until age 60 to get his pension. He’s an attorney, his wife is a physician, and he is employed by CNN as a contributor. Poor guy...unable to retire at age 50... He must be starving...
1
@Marcus Aurelius
Should read “...did NOT lose his pension.”
1
I wonder if Barr and other officials are realizing that Trump is just a paper tiger. He will whine on Twitter and at his rallies, but at the end of the day, he's too much of a coward to actually do anything.
6
And when we swear in a human with a soul as president next year, his/her first executive order should be restoring his pension, and taking Rush Limbaugh's medal away & giving it to him.
19
The DOJ had no case at all, and they knew it. The case was one of those on Trump's "revenge list." In light of the current DOJ scandals, it was better to let this ridiculous case die a quiet death rather than exposing Barr for his further stooge behavior on behalf of Emperor Donald. They don't want this hanging around when Trump pardons Roger Stone next week. It looks like Barr is finally realizing that his reputation and place in history is very much at stake. Trump will be hopping mad because he couldn't get McCabe's head on a pike. Think about that, Senator Murkowski!
14
@William O, Beeman he lied under oath , that's a felony. It's why all those that said Trump engaged in illegal activity in ukraine did so under oath and zero of those that said he didnt testified under oath.
If Trump can hold his tongue . . . what am I thinking?
3
Good news for McCabe, but baby steps for Barr, who is frantically trying to distance himself from the tyrannical Trump, while still collecting that snazzy 'Deep State' paycheck from the Justice Department.
3
Barr backed off from utter destruction of DOJ norms, will be more subtle from here on out.
4
I bet a hundred bucks that one of the next announcements is that James B. Comey will be tried for crimes made up by Trump.
Not because he is guilty but so trump can get revenge.
This plays into Barr's recent seeming push back against Trumps interference with Justice Department cases.
Trump Tweets-Barr pushes back-Trump Tweets-Barr announce Trump Target MaCabe off the hook-Trump will Tweet-Comey is falsely arrested.
watch that path. I bet it happens.
4
@mike
and this headline just pops up
Barr Installs Outside Prosecutor to Review Case Against Michael Flynn, Ex-Trump Adviser
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/14/us/politics/michael-flynn-prosecutors-barr.html?emc=edit_na_20200214&ref=cta&nl=breaking-news&campaign_id=60&instance_id=0&segment_id=21293&user_id=2e7a35dddb0c78bd274675baec1870f9®i_id=71841412
The Czar's Purge Continues
1
Barr has had McCabe's case for a long time and left him hanging for political reasons.
If there was any crime, Barr would have charged McCabe long ago. Barr's minions have certainly worked hard to search for something to charge him.
I suppose this attention meant that Barr could not continue to smear McCabe as reporters might have recovered the journalistic skills that they have forgotten the last year and started to ask questions. Although given the fawning pro-Barr reporting in this newspaper the past 2 days, that probably would not have happened.
5
When, and who is going to stop Trump...
11
The timing of this cannot be a coincidence. Trump and Barr need to be able to make a case that the DOJ is independent, so they’re letting Andrew McCabe go. Let’s see what they do with Comey.
15
Hopefully Democrats and Independents who will rally around whomever gets the Dem nomination and vote him out. Of course, the possibility remains that he will not leave office, or call off the election, but voting and uniting is the first step.
3
So many subplots in "The White House Show"—t's hard to follow them all! The injustice done to Andrew McCabe was almost buried, but now Attorney General Barr has resurrected it and dropped the charges. Does this mean that Barr really will act independent of Donald Trump's manipulation? Is Trump in on the fix? Will they give McCabe his pension or just hope the audience forgets about it? The tweets are like ads for upcoming episodes, so expect them to keep on coming..
13
A wise decision, that along with Barr’s outburst yesterday, suggests that he is facing considerable unrest at Justice from the troops. This explanation seems the most likely to me for both actions, as I doubt Barr has developed a conscience this late in the game. It has obviously become considerably more difficult for him to do his daily work amidst the chaos caused by the President and he probably has come closer than he would like to losing control of his agency. A little retrenchment was in order and won’t bother the President much, who would be hard put to replace Barr with someone as corrupt and as capable. I would look for the Phony Russia-Ukraine investigation, and any investigation of the Bidens to die a similar death.
161
@David Hurwitz Perhaps Barr is beginning to think about what kind of legacy he will leave.
3
@Soleil Kinda late for that, don't you think?
16
@David Hurwitz: Apt observation, thank you. I still can't get my head around the whole governing by twitter thing. FDR, often alone, drove around the country in a car with hand controls to get a 'feel' for his national constituency. Trump? ... meh.
10
This just shows how much damage Trump's political interference is causing. America has no idea if the decision not to charge McCabe is based on lack of evidence of wrongdoing, or to demonstrate the independence of the DoJ.
93
@Jim U
do a speed read of the Mueller Report to refresh your memory and it will quickly demonstrate that the decision was based on a lack of evidence of wrong doing...the FBI's investigation of the Trump campaign's dalliance with Putin's intermediaries was more than justified.
8
@Jim U McCabe admitted he lied to the FBI during the course of an investigation and then said "I'm sorry".If it were you or I our butts would have been in prison in a flash. The swamp is never going to be cleaned out.
@Jim U
The Times needs to include this in their report. The News media should not just bellyache about Trump's encroachment on their constitutional freedoms, but they need to followup with compelling evidence.
1
That it took two years to reach this decision is a miscarriage of justice by the Injustice Department. Justice delayed is justice denied.
271
So can Mr McCabe now claim his pension which was denied by an obviously vindictive Presidential act? A couple of years back pension with a suitable interest rate should be a neat little sum.
At some point this president* has to start being personally responsible for his actions. I understand that the president will make mistakes - sometimes costly ones - in the execution of his duties, and it's right that the public - you and I as taxpayers - should cover those. I don't even have a problem covering his golf habit, within reason. But when something like this happens, which is clearly for personal reasons and no other, it should come out of his pocket, not mine.
204
@Andrew Don't be so naive...this persecution of Andy McCabe was "no mistake" at all.
12
@Andrew Trump will crush and decimate, or entirely annihilate the Democrat's 'deep state" apparatus if he gets a second term, and that will mean curtains for the so-called "Democratic Party." They've controlled our lives and our minds long enough. Too long.
1
@Andrew And legal fees. IMO the intention of DOJ from the outset has been to use the weight of the Federal Government to bankrupt defendants because of the legal fees. When McCabe was forced out before he could collect his pension, he not only lost his pension, but has been forced to cover his legal fees himself. My guess would be—if he hasn’t gotten this pro-bono—that he is well into six figures, and possibly much more.
6
So after two years of abuse and threats, Trump has finally moved on from McCabe to the federal prosecutors in Roger Stone's case.
I remain sceptical of Barr's complaint in this time of so much political theater. Instead, I say hear what he says, but watch carefully what he actually does. More to be revealed...
84
While I think this was a good decision, one smart choice does not make for a reformed Attorney General.
I still wouldn't rule out that this is being orchestrated behind the scenes by the White House.
Sigh.
And I am sad to feel the need to say so.
74
@Kelly Grace Smith
Never feel sad to speak your mind. You will find many agree with you. I certainly do. Of course this has been orchestrated by the schlock, absurd reality TV show that is Trump. It's called the "Wacky White House." Bill Barr his star performer is incredible at pretending to be doing improvisation while actually following the script laid to a tee out by Trump. You CAN make this stuff up because that is exactly what they are doing. Unfortunately many Americans do not have the intelligence to change the channel or even believe there is any other one to watch.
3
@Kelly Grace Smith I completely agree. I don’t trust anything that comes out of Trump, Barr or the GOP Congress’ mouths. There is something going on, as there is no way Barr has suddenly grown a backbone.
3
I am not buying "the new Bill Barr". I think the statement by Barr and response by Trump yesterday is another red herring. I am however glad that McCabe is now in the clear.
303
Yeah, the new Bill Barr just appointed a prosecutor to “look into” the prosecution of Michael Flynn.
4
'Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions dismissed Mr. McCabe hours before he was eligible for those benefits,'---I hope he can a also get his retirement benefits.
129
If Trump is reelected, "Seven Days in May" may become an accurate forecast rather than simply a work of fiction.
25
Mr. McCabe sorely deserves restoration of all the benefits that Sessions denied by firing him the day before he was due to retire.
275
I am very glad for Mr. McCabe that this part of his nightmare is over, but Trump and the “Justice” Department ruined his life. He was fired without his pension and the defense of these charges must have cost him dearly.
Barr gets no pass for his closing of this investigation. I, for one, do not buy his protest about how Trump’s tweeting makes his job difficult. It outed what he does for King Trump and bared it for the world to see. That’s what makes him uncomfortable.
98
I can't wait till November 3rd to see Trump's final defeat.
I only hope once he is tossed out of office he faces real justice and all who associated with him. I realize Trump has many close allies like Putin but at least those here in the US should face justice.
69
Yes. This was a red herring meant to bolster Trump's theories about a deep state. Americans are not used to dealing with propaganda and blatant lies. We see it in the News headlines and we see it in tweets. It is not faked by the media, but by the people aspiring to deceive us. However, the News media has a responsibility to followup to update us on known facts.
There was little followup when we found out that it was Wikileaks that advised Don Jr. to leak a page of Trump Sr. 's taxes and then cry and blame it on a deep state. It will do the media good to followup, even if after-the-fact, to understand a pattern of behavior of fake accusations for this administration. We ALL have to be diligent to combat propaganda.
54
@Dr. Girl
Are you referring to the David Cay Johnston “over the transom” returns?
Tell me more!
1
@Dr. Girl “ Americans are not used to dealing with propaganda and blatant lies.”
Fox News ring any bells?
1
@Doug Lowenthal
Fox has a lot of true believers in its cage. And Trump and republicans are still winning the propaganda war.
Clearly, the case against Andrew McCabe was politically motivated, and based on Donald Trump's own tortured version of the facts, which amount to little more than a muddled timeline of events and imagined conspiracies.
Trump will have a lot to answer for once he is ejected from office. The investigation of his political purge directed against FBI personnel is only a small part of what will surely be an epic reckoning for a disgraced President.
69
@James Maybe even prison!
1
and just how much of this is orchestrated? Trump may be the "executive producer" of this show, but who exactly is the "director" in charge? is there also a team of "screenwriters" bringing this all along. we don't think any of us should but anything beside him. 16,000+ lies all fit into a thread...
11
@mike/ sorry "PUT" anything beside him...
1
I hope he now has grounds to sue for damages and gets his pension back.
72
@RJM
He shouldn't have to sue. That will cost him more $$.
2
McCabe certainly didn't deserve to be fired just before he was due to receive his pension. I don't know whether he should be prosecuted or not, but I do know that Trump (and Barr doesn't get off the hook here, whatever he says) has thrown our whole justice system into chaos and disrepute. But Republican senators cringed before the Don, and if you want to blame anybody (since Trump will never change) blame McConnell and his buddies. They should have removed the President for an absolutely clear abuse of power. Now, those abuses will just continue.
45
@Wiltontraveler
He should sue former Attorney General Jeff Sessions, the person who used his office to persecute an imaginary enemy of Donald Trump .
2
Hooray for the Justice Department, they got this case and the Stone case right. I’m sick and tired of Washington Politics being used as the basis of settling vendetta .
8
Are you sure? It might be Donald's nap time. After all, when it comes to tantrums, little children usually get so exhausted they eventually just pass out.
14
I am glad for Andrew McCabe, his wife and family that this layer of their ordeal is over. And so sorry for the cruelty they have endured at the hands of Trump.
There seems to be a pattern to Trump's bullying. In particular hinting something bad might happen then nothing, then resurfacing his grievances, on and on. As has been said of him "The cruelty is the point."
It is inexcusable for Trump to continue his constant attacks on people. Exposing them to public ridicule and danger. A congressional censure us definitely in order.
608
The man lied to federal agents. He was supposed to enforce the law and deliberately broke it to save his skin. Good to know there are two set of rules for justice in this country.
4
@F Bardales
As another commenter posted, if there was prosecutable evidence of wrongdoing, McCabe would have been charged.
52
@DEBORAH
FBardales: the pot calling the kettle black
10
This is what happens when four dedicated Justice Dept. officials resign their positions in protest against Trump's actions. Now, all of the sudden, Attorney General Barr and has had a come to Jesus moment and is attempting to at like a real AG and follow the rule of law. Apparently, being a stooge for Trump does have its limits, at least for some people.
I would venture to guess that Barr was facing a massive revolt from within the Justice Dept. as well as from within the greater legal community. That kind of peer pressure can sometimes get through to even the most dedicated sycophant.
Hopefully, Trump has pushed the envelope so far that it is finally beginning to tear. At least the envelope that is outside the US Senate.
57
@Bruce Rozenblit
I’m not convinced.
I think maybe he’s laying the groundwork for a return to private practice so he can hoover up some fat fees advising on the takeover of Nokia and/or Ericsson.
6
@Bruce Rozenblit Which raises the interesting question of where the American Bar Association is related to all this? The silence seems deafening, or maybe even the ABA fears the Don's tweets.
5
@Ca
The ABA has been declared irrelevant by the Republicans in the Senate as they continue to appoint judges that the ABA has said are NOT qualified.
2
Of course he wasn't charged. The charges were a transparent attempt at witness intimidation and obstruction of justice. Every Republican office holder, except Romney, is a co-conspirator to Trump's crimes. They all need to be charged, convicted and sentenced for treason.
81
@Jim A
I'll settle for them being voted out of office.
12
There are no charges because he didn't do anything wrong. It was Trump backers who filed all the lawsuits against him. He deserves his pension back!
173
Then why has he been Exonerated? It’s Trump and Barr who are in charge. Why would the let him go? Grand Jury? What happened?
I suspect testimony in Grand Jury dug up more dirt on Trump. 
4
@Richard K
Sez Richard K of Phoenix because, y’know Fox News.
2
@Richard K The grand jury disagrees with you..... Got that?
1
The lives trump has destroyed, the ones he's currently destroying and the ones he will destroy...no words other than I weep for our country and hope there is at some time a way to make it up to these unfortunately victims.
135
@Kathrine - Your words rang a deep mournful bell for me. I am so in line with your sentiments of sadness for our soul-dying country and the many righteous souls that this narcissist would-be tyrant is ruining. I am also weeping at the state of the Democratic Primary. I had so hoped that Joe Biden & his campaign would get their act together and win at least in Iowa and come in close behind Sanders in NH. But, Biden has never been a good candidate - and his age is showing. [The only reason I believe that people don't think of Sanders' age is that he is basically one-trick pony and he doesn't ever get into nuances of discussion - and, of course, Biden got way too nuanced way too often. Now, I am frightfully concerned that the resulting mess is going to give us 4 more years of an unleashed Trump without any check in any government branch.
3
There still are other options.
2
@Jean C
It ain't over till it's over!
Please don't give up yet.
I am in Amy's camp right now but most importantly I will back whoever the person is that gets the nomination.
FIGHT!!
2
Good news, indeed. America is sick and tired of Trump using dedicated public servants as punching boards to exploit, to manipulate, to project and reflect his own unhinged character flaws and egomania. And now we wonder. Has Barr awaken his sleeping moral compass? Will he be the next to be ousted from an infamous abode of notorious and egregious behavior? We will see and hope this is a California quake rather than a tremor. However, the people I am really watching are McConnell, Graham, et al. in a weak and spineless Republican Senate. It is an ominous sign that this group will ultimately choose between a democracy or an autocracy, indeed, a dictatorship.
56
@Kathy Lollock -They are choosing between their own political careers, short-term policy gains, longer term gains from judicial appointments, AND the moral soul of America.
3
@Kathy Lollock I wouldn't worry too much about Barr’s moral compass. He doesn’t have one.
6
@Ellyn Apparently so. Have you read the breaking news that Barr has an outside prosecutor investigating his own prosecutors in the Flynn case? Unbelievable! Rotten guy..
3
Window dressing?
14
@miche I think, being shaky at best, it was an easy case to drop in order to "prove" Barr's independence.
11
@miche Absolutely and an easy jettison off the docket for barr-browny-points given it was a fit-up to begin with and unwinnable.
4
By doing the right thing, DOJ has just thrown down the gauntlet. What will Barr do if his boss is dissatisfied?
8
It is amazing that we are so happy about what was clear from the start: There was no there there. That it took the AG office this long to figure it out is disgraceful. This is a freebie for our Vicar General Barr. Unless he walked that dog of a case into court himself, he very likely could not have found anyone who would, particularly if the rest of his staff has the backbone and ethical standards evidenced by the Stone Four. So he prepares the ground by his "impossible" comment, then does what had to be done to show he meant it. Poppycock. He will either return to the Trump line or he will be tweet-fired.
52
This is another carefully staged ruse to try to make Trump and Barr not look complicit.
The Trump administration must be getting advice from Kenneth Starr or Dick Cheney. Or both.
120
@Joe Oh yes, a ruse it is. Something big is going on behind the scene.
4
@Joe
Exactly
1
Any federal jury in Washington D.C. would have laughed the case out of court and cheered McCabe as he left the courthouse.
So now will the great majority of Americans.
100
@A. Stanton
DC is >99% Democrat, so yeah.
1
@A. Stanton - maybe the majority of Americans will feel a bit better about DOJ today, but we larger in number have no power in any branch of government these days.
2
Here comes the barking clown tweet storm:
I alone can fix it and I have the absolute right, so I am sending crooked McCabe to jail for at least as long as Stone gets from that biased Judge Jackson.
And then I am pardoning Stone.
29
@say what
The quote was "carnival barking clown."
2
This man deserves to receive his pension. Trump wants to believe this is a banana republic where dictators go after their perceived enemies. We must not allow this to happen.
191
Trump needs to be told to jump in the lake. Such vanity and also seeking revenge. Trump needs to go back to work.
16
@Dan
When will people learn that trump is a school yard bully.Like any bully if you stand your ground and punch him in the nose or let him know that you can hurt him he will back down.Look how trump fights? He always punches down.Bloomberg is showing that trump can't take it.
7
@Dan Go back to work? He never started! He spends the majority of the day Tweeting, watching TV or guzzling Diet Cokes. For the rest he's on the golf course or yukking it up with his Fox staff.
8
@Dan
How would he know how to work?
2
That OK with Trump? McCabe should not make any vacation plans until he signs off on it.
6
After over 20 years of stellar service, Andrew McCabe deserves more than the end of Trump's campaign of revenge. He deserves the pension denied him just hours before he retired.
968
@Paul Wortman
Yes, pension. That abrupt, punitive decision was an abomination.
As his counsel said, the prosecutors job is to apply the law to the facts. McCabe should not have been in legal limbo for two years. This whole mess could have been dispatched quickly. Awful treatment from a government he served admirably.
134
@Paul Wortman You are so right. I pray he received his full pension. A stellar civil servant like Mr. McCabe who dedicated his life to serving our country deserves nothing less.
77
@Paul Wortman
Oh, that lawsuit is coming. You can bet on it.
37
The vindictiveness is spectacular.
Trump must go.
581
@Full Name (required)
Vindictive, vengeful, venal - lots of V's from this president.
How about, for Valentine's Day - a wish: Vote him out!
6
Stop trying to give William Barr cover. Just look at everything else he’s doing on Trump’s behalf. If there was prosecutable evidence of wrongdoing, McCabe would have been charged.
421
@VAKnightStick
Exactly. How is it that this newspaper is blind to what is right in front of their faces? Are they that cowed by the right? Willing to give the benefit of the doubt to a guy who showed America exactly what he was when he mischaracterized the Mueller Report, when he appointed his own men to "investigate the investigators" because the IG report wasn't sufficient, when he opened the investigations Trump wanted opened and demanded leniency for the convicted criminals who were Trump's friends.
5
Barr is trying to.avoid being impeached, isn't he?
The lawyers who became politicians actually understand this problem directly.
150
Makes me wary of what Barr has up his sleeve. Indicting Schiff? Indicting whistleblower?
132
He wishes
1
Apparently, some of Trump’s pills are still too difficult to swallow. Scant consolation.
46
Great news for Mr McCabe. Now - when will his pension be restored? This was a terrible abuse of power.
741