Trump attacks FBI officials amid reports of personnel changes

WASHINGTON — President Trump attacked the deputy director of the FBI on Saturday amid reports that he was planning to retire from the agency.

Andrew McCabe, who served as the agency’s acting director this summer after Trump fired former director James Comey, has found himself a lightning rod for GOP attacks on the FBI’s handling of politically charged investigations into both Hillary Clinton’s emails and the Trump campaign’s ties to Russia.

Among the allegations: That McCabe should have recused himself from the Clinton investigation because his wife — as a candidate for state senator in Virginia in 2005 — received $675,000 from the Democratic party and its allies. 

“How can FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, the man in charge, along with leakin’ James Comey, of the Phony Hillary Clinton investigation (including her 33,000 illegally deleted emails) be given $700,000 for wife’s campaign by Clinton Puppets during investigation?” Trump tweeted Saturday. 

Trump said McCabe is “racing the clock to retire with full benefits.” 

The tweets followed a Washington Post report that McCabe plans to retire in a few months, when he becomes eligible for a full pension. 

Trump, who made McCabe acting director of the FBI for nearly three months this year after he fired Comey, has been increasingly critical of McCabe in recent months. 

Trump also took notice of James Baker, the FBI’s top lawyer, amid reports he was being reassigned as Director Christopher Wray begins to assembly his own team. 

“Wow, ‘FBI lawyer James Baker reassigned,’ according to @FoxNews,” Trump tweeted.

The growing attacks on top FBI officials led Comey on Friday to lament the partisan atmosphere surrounding the agency. 

“Sadly, we are now at a point in our political life when anyone can be attacked for partisan gain,” Comey tweeted. “James Baker, who is stepping down as FBI General Counsel, served our country incredibly well for 25 years deserves better. He is what we should all want our public servants to be.”

 

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