WASHINGTON, Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe won back his entire pension in a settlement of his lawsuit arising out of his firing during Trump's administration, his lawyers announced on Thursday.
McCabe was a target of Donald Trump's anger and was fired in March 2018. The Justice Department's inspector General concluded that McCabe had authorized the publication of information to a newspaper reporter, then misled internal investigators about the role he played in the leak. McCabe's attorney general Jeff Sessions fired McCabe just hours before McCabe was scheduled to retire. This denied McCabe his pension.
McCabe joined the FBI in 1996 and was entitled to his full pension under the settlement agreement.
McCabe stated in a statement that politics should not play any role in the fair administration and personnel decisions of civil service. McCabe said that he hoped "this result encourages men and women at the FBI to continue protecting the American people by standing for truth and doing their job without fear of political reprisal."
McCabe denied insinuating anyone and was not criminally charged. He has also blasted his firing for being politically motivated and part Trump's ongoing war on the FBI. Trump was at the time railing against the FBI for investigating ties between Russia, his 2016 presidential campaign and Trump himself. McCabe called McCabe's termination a "great moment for Democracy" shortly afterwards it was announced.
McCabe filed a lawsuit in 2019 claiming that his firing was part Trump's attempt to rid the FBI of disloyal officials. McCabe was appointed acting director of FBI in May 2017, after Trump fired James Comey. This termination was investigated by Robert Mueller for possible obstruction of justice.
The federal government agreed to cancel and vacate McCabe’s firing, declare him retired in good standing, reinstate his full retirement pension, and record that he was employed continuously from 1996 until his actual retirement date.
According to the settlement, he is entitled to additional benefits for retiring FBI senior officers, such as special cufflinks, "official FBI credentials, badge and time-in service award keys" that are mounted in the same format used by retiring FBI Deputy Director's and other senior officials.
Murad Hussain (a McCabe lawyer) stated in a statement that civil servants such as Andrew McCabe have been at the backbone of the federal government for 140 years. He said that they pledged their loyalty to the Constitution over any political party or politician.
He said, "This settlement and the rulings of the district court make it clear that attempts at corrupting the federal workforce by partisan intimidation or improper political influence will not be ignored."
A spokesperson from the Justice Department declined to comment, as they did not admit any wrongdoing in the settlement.
Although McCabe's pension is restored, the settlement does not reverse the inspector general's conclusion that McCabe was uncooperative when questioned by investigators.
