Former acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe on Thursday filed a complaint in the US District Court for the District of Columbia against Attorney General William Barr, the US Department of Justice, the FBI and FBI Director Christopher Wray.
The lawsuit alleges McCabe was subject to “a politically motivated and retaliatory demotion in January 2018 and public firing in March 2018—on the very night of [McCabe’s] long-planned retirement from the FBI.”
The complaint identifies Donald Trump, acting in his official capacity as US President, as the cause of the unlawful actions. Specifically, the complaint cites internal communications that identified the removal and discrediting of federal employees who were not politically loyal to Trump.
Furthermore, the complaint explains that Trump constructed a false narrative about McCabe’s wife being involved in Hillary Clinton’s election campaign, and used this narrative as support for “constitutionally improper motives for removing” McCabe from civil service. By firing McCabe before his retirement, Trump deprived him of his full retirement benefits.
McCabe has petitioned the court for a judgment that nullifies his termination, reinstating his good standing as a retired Deputy Director of the FBI and entitling him to full pension and benefits. He has also asked to enjoin the defendants from McCabe’s receipt of these benefits to prevent further retaliatory actions.
(Published by Bloomberg, Agust 12 2019)
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