CNN has hired former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama and fired by former Attorne...
CNN has hired former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama and fired by former Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
What's the background?
McCabe was fired by Sessions on March 16, 2018. Since he was fired a day before he could have retired, he will have to wait until he is 57 instead of 50 in order to collect his retirement benefits.
Before his firing, McCabe had been a frequent target of Trump's criticism. Trump celebrated the firing in a tweet, calling it a "great day for Democracy."
Andrew McCabe FIRED, a great day for the hard working men and women of the FBI - A great day for Democracy. Sanctimonious James Comey was his boss and made McCabe look like a choirboy. He knew all about the lies and corruption going on at the highest levels of the FBI!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 17, 2018
In April 2018, news broke that the Justice Department's inspector general issued a criminal referral to the U.S. attorney's office regarding McCabe. The IG accused McCabe of purposely leaking information to the media in order to "advance his personal interest." This referral in itself was not legally binding.
McCabe also published a book this year titled, "The Threat: How the FBI Protects America in the Age of Terror and Trump," a memoir critical of the administration in general and Sessions in particular.
What happened now?
On Friday, CNN senior media reporter Oliver Darcy tweeted, "Some news: CNN announces Andrew McCabe has been signed as a contributor."
Some news: CNN announces Andrew McCabe has been signed as a contributor.— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) August 23, 2019
This announcement comes a day after CNN personalities, including Darcy, criticized Fox News for hiring former White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Darcy said Thursday that this, and Sean Spicer's inclusion on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars," "raises the question: How should former White House officials who misled the public be treated when they seek positions of fame and privilege?"
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