Former FBI Director James Comey defended his former deputy director, Andy McCabe, on Thursday, telling Fox News anchor Bret Baier he still believes McCabe “stood tall.”
Comey defended McCabe despite revelations McCabe lied both to Comey and to FBI investigators about leaks McCabe orchestrated to the media.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions fired McCabe on March 16 after both the Department of Justice’s Office of Inspector General and the FBI’s Office of Professional Responsibility recommended McCabe’s termination.
Comey blasted McCabe’s firing at the time, writing on Twitter: “Special Agent Andrew McCabe stood tall over the last eight months, when small people were trying to tear down an institution we all depend on. He served with distinction for two decades. I wish Andy well. I also wish continued strength for the rest of the FBI. America needs you.”
[Screenshot/Twitter]
“Do you still believe he ‘stood tall’ as you tweeted in January,” the Fox News anchor asked, “or is he one of the ‘small people helping to tear down an institution?'”
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“Yeah. I still believe he stood tall,” Comey said. “He represented himself and the organization under tremendous stress during that period after I was fired.”
“But I read the IG report as you did. It concluded that Andy had not been candid. This is what accountability looks like in the Justice Department,” Comey said.
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