Washington, Jan. 29 (TNS): US top spy agency FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe has told FBI staff he is stepping down effective Monday, US media reported.
According to CNN report, McCabe had become a central target of President Donald Trump’s ire toward the FBI over its involvement in the investigation into potential collusion between his campaign and Russia during the 2016 election.
McCabe was eligible to retire in March, but with his accumulated leave, he is able to step down earlier. His departure came as a surprise even to some expecting his March retirement.
One source said Monday’s departure was not in the plans as of Friday. The source said McCabe was told Monday morning to step down. A second source described McCabe’s departure as being “removed.”
Another source familiar with the matter said it was a “mutual” decision.
“He had enough of being undermined and criticized,” this source said. But Trump and the administration was “not happy” with him, the same source said.
Trump learned about the departure Monday morning, a White House official told CNN. The President did not answer a reporter’s question at the White House about McCabe’s departure.
Trump has kept nonstop pressure on McCabe ever since he became acting director in May, using the longtime law enforcement official as a punching bag — both publicly and privately — to vent his frustrations about the FBI. In December, Trump tweeted “FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe is racing the clock to retire with full benefits.
