Then-acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe testifying before a House subcommittee in June 2017. Photo: Pete Marovich/Getty Images
The Department of Justice gave former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe back pay and restored his retirement benefits as part of a settlement for a federal lawsuit alleging he was illegally fired for political reasons in March 2018.
Why it matters: McCabe had been dismissed hours before he was set to retire by former Attorney General Jeff Sessions after an inspector general's report alleged that he had improperly disclosed information to reporters, meaning he was denied retirement and other benefits.
- The settlement comes after the Justice Department in February 2020 declined to bring charges against McCabe in an investigation into whether he lied to investigators about a press leak.
The big picture: McCabe became acting director of the bureau after former President Trump fired director James Comey in 2017 in part because of his frustration with the investigation into possible collusion between his campaign and the Kremlin in 2016.
- After McCabe became acting director and took over the investigation, Trump repeatedly publicly ridiculed him in tweets. McCabe became deputy director again when Christopher Wray was sworn in as the new director in August 2017.
- The same day it became public that McCabe was retiring, Trump claimed he was "racing the clock to retire with full benefits. 90 days to go?!!!"
What they're saying: "Politics should never play a role in the fair administration of justice and civil service personnel decisions," McCabe said through through Arnold & Porter, a law firm.
- "I hope that this result encourages the men and women of the FBI to continue to protect the American people by standing up for the truth and doing their jobs without fear of political retaliation," he added.
Of note: The Justice Department did not admit wrongdoing or apologize to McCabe in the court filing.
Go deeper ... Timeline: Trump's turbulent relationship with Andrew McCabe