Dem lawmaker: Getting targeted by Trump will soon be ‘a badge of honor’

Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.) on Saturday defended FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe against an attack from President Trump, saying being targeted by the president will soon be a badge of honor. 

“Like being on Nixon’s enemies list, being targeted by this wholly unfit President will soon be a badge of honor,” Himes tweeted. 

Like being on Nixon’s enemies list, being targeted by this wholly unfit President will soon be a badge of honor. https://t.co/PwuNlCgdZt

— Jim Himes (@jahimes) December 23, 2017

Himes called McCabe a “good” man in a separate tweet, saying he has never used his office to act politically while accusing Trump of “shaming the Oval Office.”

{mosads}

“Andrew McCabe is a good and decent man who devoted his career to keeping Americans safe. He in no way acted politically. You are shaming the Oval Office,” he said. 

Andrew McCabe is a good and decent man who devoted his career to keeping Americans safe. He in no way acted politically. You are shaming the Oval Office. https://t.co/2isfPYmxqP

— Jim Himes (@jahimes) December 23, 2017

Himes’s comments came shortly after Trump took to Twitter to attack McCabe after reports that the deputy director would step down from his FBI post in March, when he is eligible for full pension benefits. 

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?

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 23, 2017

FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe is racing the clock to retire with full benefits. 90 days to go?!!!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 23, 2017

The president interviewed McCabe to be FBI director in May after he fired James Comey from the position. Trump ultimately tapped Christopher Wray to lead the bureau.

McCabe has been at the center of Republican attacks over the past year for his handling of the federal probes into Hillary Clinton’s email server and Russia’s election meddling. 

His wife ran for Virginia state Senate in 2015 and got thousands of dollars in campaign donations from a political action committee spearheaded by Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D), who is closely tied to the Clintons.