James Comey Defends Deputy FBI Director Who Republicans Have Pressured To Retire

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Andrew McCabe, who’s served as director of the FBI since May after Trump fired James Comey, is retiring in roughly 90 days, according to The Washington Post. The decision comes after continual attacks from Republicans and President Trump over that past half year.

Comey responded to the news with a rare post on social media. “Sadly, we are now at a point in our political life when anyone can be attacked for partisan gain,” he tweeted. “James Baker, who is stepping down as FBI General Counsel, served our country incredibly well for 25 years & deserves better. He is what we should all want our public servants to be.”

Sadly, we are now at a point in our political life when anyone can be attacked for partisan gain. James Baker, who is stepping down as FBI General Counsel, served our country incredibly well for 25 years & deserves better. He is what we should all want our public servants to be.

— James Comey (@Comey) December 23, 2017

According to The Post, McCabe had to face several hours’ worth of questioning “behind closed doors from members of three committees,” only to leave the Republicans interviewing him dissatisfied.

John Pistole, former deputy director of the FBI, said McCabe is in a “difficult position” because of the “hyper-partisan environment” and that he’s currently “weathering the storm” and having to take responsibility for Comey’s decisions.

It’s disappointing,” he said, “to see how the criticism of the FBI is being used to try to undermine the credibility of the Mueller investigation. I think they’ve figured out they can’t undermine Bob’s integrity, so they’re just going to go after whoever they can dig up any dirt on.’’

Criticism of the FBI’s involvement in the Russia investigation has intensified over the past few weeks among Trump and others in the GOP. For obvious reasons, Trump has been the most invested in pushing the narrative that the probe into whether he colluded with Russia to sway the election is a “witch hunt” and a “scam.”

Like Comey, Trump also reacted to the news of McCabe’s retirement on Twitter, but he predictably chose to attack the deputy director for supposedly trying to take advantage of his retirement benefits and for having previously accepted money from the Clintons.

“How can FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, the man in charge, along with leakin’ James Comey, of the Phony Hillary Clinton investigation (including her 33,000 illegally deleted emails) be given $700,000 for wife’s campaign by Clinton Puppets during investigation?” he wrote.

He followed with a second tweet reading, “FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe is racing the clock to retire with full benefits. 90 days to go?!!!”

Several Democrats, such as California Rep. Adam Schiff, have recently warned that Republicans are trying to shut the Russia investigation down. This new development about McCabe shows their efforts might be starting to work.