Fired FBI Deputy Shares Meeting Reports with Mueller

Following the high-profile firing of Andrew McCabe, the Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), American media reported on Saturday, March 17, that Mr. McCabe has provided reports detailing his meetings with Donald Trump, the President of the United States. According to the Associated Press, after his dismissal from the FBI, Mr. McCabe shared these personal reports with Robert Mueller, the special counsel investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election. The reports Mr. McCabe wrote about his meetings with Donald Trump could potentially impact the outcome of Mueller's investigation. Mr. Mueller is investigating possible collusion between Donald Trump's campaign and Russia during the 2016 election. The Associated Press cited a source with direct knowledge of the matter, stating that Mr. McCabe's personal reports also include accounts of his conversations with James Comey. Although the content of what Andrew McCabe has provided to Robert Mueller is not yet clear, American media suggest that these writings likely contain new details regarding Donald Trump's communications with the FBI. The news of these personal reports emerged just hours after Donald Trump described the day of Mr. McCabe's firing as 'a great day for democracy.' Mr. Trump also stated that Andrew McCabe was aware of what he called 'corruption and lies at the highest levels of the FBI.' These comments from Mr. Trump, posted on Twitter, provoked a strong reaction from John Brennan, the former CIA director. In an unprecedented move, Mr. Brennan addressed the U.S. President on Twitter, stating, 'When the extent of your money-grubbing, moral corruption, and political corruption becomes clear, you will be remembered as a discredited demagogue, where you belong in the dustbin of history. You may be able to sacrifice McCabe, but you cannot destroy America. America will prevail over you.' Mr. Brennan's sharp criticisms have yet to receive a response from Donald Trump or the White House. Jeff Sessions, the U.S. Attorney General who fired Mr. McCabe, stated that he acted based on legal procedures and the recommendation of the FBI's inspection department. Mr. McCabe, who had previously announced his resignation, was dismissed just two days before his retirement, which will likely affect his pension rights. Investigations into the FBI regarding the handling of the Hillary Clinton email case ultimately concluded that Mr. McCabe had issued orders to leak information to the media and had also lied during investigations. This former FBI official, who served in the agency for 20 years, has denied all allegations, claiming that the treatment he received is part of an organized attack on the FBI. Mr. McCabe asserts that these attacks are part of the government's efforts to discredit the special counsel's investigations led by Robert Mueller. Meanwhile, on Saturday, John Dowd, Donald Trump's personal attorney, praised Jeff Sessions' action in firing McCabe and stated that Rod Rosenstein, Mr. Sessions' deputy, should end the investigations into Russia's role in the elections. He also told the Associated Press that he personally had not spoken to judicial officials about this matter or requested anyone's dismissal. Currently, Robert Mueller is investigating not only Russia but also whether Donald Trump's actions, including the firing of James Comey, constituted 'obstruction of justice.' The Associated Press reported that Andrew McCabe's personal reports may also be significant in examining this accusation. In a statement released after his dismissal, McCabe wrote that he was fired due to his actions following James Comey's dismissal and his observations. After Comey's firing, Andrew McCabe briefly served as the acting head of the FBI. However, from the very first days following Comey's dismissal, serious disagreements arose between him and Donald Trump, as he stated that contrary to the government's claims, Mr. Comey had sufficient respect and credibility among the FBI staff. He abruptly left the position of Deputy FBI Director at the beginning of this year and went on leave. Mr. McCabe had previously been in the spotlight not only for his handling of the Hillary Clinton email case but also due to the political actions of his wife. In 2016, it was revealed that Mr. McCabe's wife, who was running for a state Senate seat in Virginia, received financial support from a close friend of the Clinton family. Following this revelation, the FBI conducted investigations and ultimately announced that Mr. McCabe had received the necessary approvals for his wife's political activities and that the legal process had been followed. It was also stated that he had no responsibility in the investigation of Hillary Clinton at that time.