Topline
His attorney announced Thursday that the federal government had agreed to reinstate Andrew McCabe's former acting FBI Director pension. This is the end of a long legal battle that started after McCabe was fired by Trump just one day before his retirement benefits were due to start.
Andrew McCabe, Acting FBI Director, prepares to testify in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee on... [+] May 11, 2017 Getty Images
The Key Facts
According to McCabe's attorneys, the Department of Justice moved McCabes departure date from the FBI to March 16, 2018, when he was fired. This occurred three days later or one day after McCabes 50th Birthday. McCabe will now be eligible for federal retirement benefits. McCabe will also receive a lump sum from the government for all his retirement payments since March 2018, when he left the FBI.
Important Background
McCabe, a long-serving FBI officer who was appointed acting director in 2017, had intended to retire in March 2018. But Attorney General Jeff Sessions fired him after he failed to disclose his views with reporters about Hillary Clinton's private email server use. McCabe's eligibility to receive federal retirement benefits at age 50 has been impacted by his firing. Instead of waiting until he turns 55, McCabe will now be able to start receiving them as soon as he turns 50. McCabe sued Trump's government two years ago. He claimed that his firing was politically motivated, and was driven by Trump's perceived disloyalty.
Important Quote
McCabe stated in a statement that politics should not play any role in the fair administration and decisions regarding civil service personnel.
Tangent
Trump has often attacked FBI officers. McCabe was appointed acting FBI chief in 2017 after Trump fired James Comey. Trump has repeatedly claimed that the Obama administration spied on his 2016 campaign without any evidence.
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Andrew McCabe isn't losing his pension (Forbes).
