Key Dem warns FBI against removing McCabe over pressure from Trump

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) warned the FBI on Saturday against removing top officials, including Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, over criticism from President Trump.

“FBI would set a dangerous precedent if it forced out dedicated career public servants in capitulation to Trump and WH pressure,” tweeted Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee.

“President has already removed one top FBI leader — Comey — over Russia; McCabe would be another,” Schiff added.

FBI would set a dangerous precedent if it forced out dedicated career public servants in capitulation to Trump and WH pressure. President has already removed one top FBI leader — Comey — over Russia; McCabe would be another. https://t.co/3txhTds3vA

— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) December 23, 2017

Schiff’s comments came after The Washington Post reported that McCabe was preparing to retire from the bureau in the coming months. McCabe is reportedly looking to step down in March, when he secures his full pension benefits.

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The No. 2 FBI official has been the subject of scrutiny by GOP lawmakers in recent weeks over the bureau’s handling of the probe into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server while serving as secretary of State, as well as ties between Trump campaign associates and Russia. 

Trump jabbed at McCabe on Saturday, tweeting that the FBI official was “racing the clock to retire with full benefits.” In a tweet mentioning former FBI Director James Comey, whom Trump fired in May, the president also knocked McCabe over his wife’s ties to prominent Democrats.

The House Intelligence Committee interviewed McCabe last week as part of a wider probe into Russia’s election meddling and the Justice Department’s actions throughout the 2016 election.