Sign up for our daily briefing
Make your busy days simpler with Axios AM/PM. Catch up on what's new and why it matters in just 5 minutes.
Catch up on the day's biggest business stories
Subscribe to Axios Closer for insights into the day’s business news and trends and why they matter
Stay on top of the latest market trends
Subscribe to Axios Markets for the latest market trends and economic insights. Sign up for free.
Sports news worthy of your time
Binge on the stats and stories that drive the sports world with Axios Sports. Sign up for free.
Tech news worthy of your time
Get our smart take on technology from the Valley and D.C. with Axios Login. Sign up for free.
Get the inside stories
Get an insider's guide to the new White House with Axios Sneak Peek. Sign up for free.
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Want a daily digest of the top Denver news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Denver
Want a daily digest of the top Des Moines news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Des Moines
Want a daily digest of the top Twin Cities news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Twin Cities
Want a daily digest of the top Tampa Bay news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Tampa Bay
Want a daily digest of the top Charlotte news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Charlotte
Sign up for Axios NW Arkansas
Stay up-to-date on the most important and interesting stories affecting NW Arkansas, authored by local reporters
Photo: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
Former Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe is looking to sue for defamation, wrongful termination and other possible civil claims, his lawyer told reporters Friday.
What to watch: McCabe’s lawyer, Michael Bromwich, also said his client told then-FBI Director James Comey that he was pushing back on stories about the Hillary Clinton investigation — which would mean he didn’t lack candor. They are seeking ways to release emails and phone call transcripts between McCabe and Comey to shed light on the issue.
Timing: Bromwich said McCabe's legal team has yet to work out a timeframe for when they plan to file the suits, but the team "want[s] these to be solid. We’ll file when we’re ready."
Bromwich also accused McCabe's opponents, including President Trump, of "continuing slander":
“We’ve never seen anything like this before. It does damage not only to Andy McCabe individually but also to the FBI as an institution.”
The intrigue: Bromwich said that McCabe was "upset and disappointed" by some of the things former FBI Director James Comey has said about him. But he added they are not suggesting that Comey is "making things up or lying."
- "Nobody’s memory is perfect, people are fallible," Bromwich said when asked about the differences between McCabe and Comey's stories. "McCabe has a clear recollection, Comey does not."
- Bromwich added that his team hasn't managed to find any witnesses to corroborate McCabe's version of the story, but said they also haven't had the necessary time to do so.
One big thing: Bromwich announced the launch of the Andrew McCabe Legal Defense Fund. Its three trustees are looking at transferring the $550,000 that was raised via a GoFundMe campaign over to the more formal legal fund.
Bromwich's bottom line: He believes that if the case against McCabe is evaluated on the merits and facts "there will be a decision not to prosecute on any charges whatsoever," again emphasizing the low standard for a referral from the OIG's office.