History of Andrew McCabe in Timeline
Andrew McCabe is an American attorney who served as Deputy Director and briefly as Acting Director of the FBI. His tenure coincided with a tumultuous period marked by the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and the subsequent firing of FBI Director James Comey by President Trump. McCabe himself was later dismissed from the FBI amidst controversy and criticism from President Trump. After leaving government service, he joined CNN as a contributor in 2019.
March 18, 1968: Birth of Andrew McCabe
Andrew George McCabe was born on March 18, 1968. This event marks the beginning of his life.
1986: McCabe Graduates from The Bolles School
Andrew McCabe graduates from The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1986.
1990: McCabe Graduates from Duke University
Andrew McCabe graduated from Duke University in 1990.
1993: McCabe Receives J.D. Degree
Andrew McCabe earned his Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Washington University in St. Louis in 1993.
July 1996: McCabe Starts FBI Career
Andrew McCabe's career with the FBI commenced in July 1996, marking the start of his long tenure with the bureau.
1996: McCabe Joins FBI After Private Practice
After practicing law privately for three years, Andrew McCabe joined the FBI in 1996.
1996: McCabe Joins the FBI
Andrew McCabe began his career with the FBI in 1996, starting as a special agent.
1996: McCabe Begins FBI Career in New York
Andrew McCabe's FBI journey began in 1996 at the New York Field Office, where he served on the SWAT team.
2003: McCabe Joins Eurasian Organized Crime Task Force
In 2003, Andrew McCabe transitioned to the Eurasian Organized Crime Task Force as a supervisory special agent.
2003: McCabe Becomes Supervisory Special Agent
In 2003, Andrew McCabe's FBI career progressed as he took on the role of a supervisory special agent.
2009: McCabe Leads High-Value Detainee Interrogation Group
In 2009, Andrew McCabe assumed leadership of the High-Value Detainee Interrogation Group, a program dedicated to researching interrogation methods following a ban on waterboarding.
2012: McCabe Secures Arrest in Benghazi Attack
Andrew McCabe played a crucial role in the apprehension of Ahmed Abu Khattala, a suspect in the 2012 Benghazi attack.
2013: McCabe's Role in Boston Marathon Bombing Investigation
Andrew McCabe played a role in the investigation of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing.
2015: Jill McCabe Runs for Virginia Senate
In 2015, Jill McCabe, Andrew McCabe's wife and a pediatrician, ran for a seat in the Virginia State Senate as a Democrat.
2015: McCabe Notifies FBI of Wife's Political Aspirations
In 2015, before his wife, Jill McCabe, ran for political office in Virginia, McCabe informed the FBI about her plans. He consulted with the FBI about avoiding a conflict of interest.
2015: FBI Begins Investigation of Clinton Foundation
In 2015, the FBI began investigating the Clinton Foundation. Four field offices were involved in the investigation.
January 29, 2016: McCabe Appointed Deputy Director of the FBI
FBI Director James Comey appointed Andrew McCabe to the position of Deputy Director on January 29, 2016.
February 1, 2016: McCabe Assumes Deputy Director Role
Andrew McCabe officially stepped into the role of Deputy Director of the FBI on February 1, 2016.
February 2016: McCabe Appointed Deputy Director of the FBI
In February 2016, Andrew McCabe was appointed to the position of Deputy Director of the FBI.
February 2016: McCabe Becomes Deputy Director
McCabe was appointed as deputy director of the FBI in February 2016.
July 2016: McCabe Makes Decision on Clinton Foundation Investigation
In July 2016, McCabe decided that the New York FBI office, with support from Little Rock, would continue investigating the Clinton Foundation. This decision was opposed by a senior Justice Department official.
July 31, 2016: FBI Launches Crossfire Hurricane Investigation
The FBI initiated its investigation, known as Crossfire Hurricane, on July 31, 2016, to examine potential coordination between the Trump campaign and the Russian government. Both Comey and McCabe were briefed on the investigation.
October 2016: Wall Street Journal Publishes Article on FBI-Justice Department Disagreements
In October 2016, the Wall Street Journal published an article that revealed disagreements between the FBI and Justice Department concerning an investigation into the Clinton Foundation.
October 24, 2016: Wall Street Journal Reporter Emails FBI Official
On October 24, 2016, a Wall Street Journal reporter emailed an FBI official, asking about McCabe's involvement in the investigation into the Clinton Foundation, which started in 2015.
October 30, 2016: Wall Street Journal Publishes Follow-Up Article
The Wall Street Journal published a follow-up article on October 30, 2016, which included details about a phone call between a senior Justice Department official and McCabe. The article discussed their disagreement on the continuation of the Clinton Foundation investigation.
2016: Trump Questions McCabe About His Vote
After James Comey's dismissal, Andrew McCabe had an introductory meeting with President Trump. During this meeting, Trump reportedly inquired about McCabe's voting choice in the 2016 election.
2016: OIG Investigates Leaks
In 2016, the OIG began an investigation into leaks related to the FBI.
2016: McCabe Targeted by Trump and Wife
McCabe claims that he and his wife became targets of Trump's "maniacal rage" starting in October 2016.
January 2017: Investigation into McCabe Begins
In January 2017, the Department of Justice's inspector general and the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee began investigating McCabe. They were examining whether he should have recused himself from the Clinton email scandal investigation due to potential conflicts of interest.
May 9, 2017: McCabe Becomes Acting FBI Director
On May 9, 2017, following the dismissal of James Comey, Andrew McCabe stepped into the role of acting Director of the FBI.
May 10, 2017: Search for Interim FBI Director Begins
The process of selecting an interim FBI director commenced on May 10, 2017, with Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein interviewing potential candidates. McCabe was considered for the position but ultimately remained as acting director.
May 2017: Investigation into FBI Leaks Expands
In May 2017, the FBI Inspection Division expanded its investigation into leaks concerning the Clinton Foundation investigation. This expanded investigation also included the leak of a phone call's content, which was published on October 30, 2016.
June 7, 2017: Christopher A. Wray Nominated as FBI Director
On June 7, 2017, Christopher A. Wray was put forth as the nominee for the permanent position of FBI Director.
July 2017: Trump Publicly Attacks McCabe
Starting in July 2017, while McCabe was acting director, Trump repeatedly used Twitter to attack him, suggesting Sessions should dismiss him due to the potential conflicts of interest being investigated and taunting him about "racing the clock" until retirement.
August 1, 2017: Wray Confirmed as FBI Director
Christopher A. Wray's confirmation as the new FBI Director took place on August 1, 2017, leading to Andrew McCabe's return to the role of deputy director.
August 2, 2017: McCabe's Tenure as Acting FBI Director Ends
Andrew McCabe's time as acting Director of the FBI concluded on August 2, 2017, with the confirmation of Christopher A. Wray as the new director.
August 2017: OIG Opens Investigation into McCabe
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) opened an investigation into McCabe in late August 2017. This investigation was separate from the ongoing one for conflict of interest and stemmed from conflicting information McCabe provided during interviews in May and August 2017 regarding the FBI leaks.
December 2017: McCabe Testifies Before House Intelligence Committee
McCabe testified before the House Intelligence Committee in December 2017. The content of this testimony, provided in a classified session, remains unavailable to the public.
December 18, 2017: Wall Street Journal Reports on Strzok's "Insurance Policy" Text
On December 18, 2017, The Wall Street Journal reported that associates of Peter Strzok, an FBI agent, clarified that the "insurance policy" mentioned in a text message referred to the FBI continuing its investigation into potential collusion between Trump and Russia, should Trump win the election.
2017: McCabe Authorizes Investigation into Sessions
In 2017, Andrew McCabe authorized an investigation into potential false statements made by Jeff Sessions to Congress. This investigation was later closed.
January 2018: Sessions Pressures Wray to Fire McCabe; Wray Resists
By January 2018, it was reported that Sessions was pressuring Wray to fire McCabe. Wray refused and threatened to resign if McCabe was removed.
January 2018: Investigation into McCabe Ends
The investigation into McCabe concluded in January 2018 with the release of FBI documents. These documents demonstrated that McCabe had followed the FBI's protocol regarding potential conflicts of interest.
January 29, 2018: McCabe Announces Resignation
Following a meeting with Wray to discuss the pending OIG report on the 2016 leaks and the possibility of a demotion, McCabe announced his resignation as deputy director, effective immediately on January 29, 2018.
February 2018: OIG Concludes Investigation into FBI Leaks
The OIG concluded its second investigation into the FBI leaks in February 2018. The investigation found that McCabe lacked candor, even under oath, regarding his role in a disclosure to the Wall Street Journal. They determined that he had violated FBI Offense Codes 2.5 and 2.6 and that his disclosure of the ongoing investigation violated FBI and Department of Justice media policy.
March 1, 2018: News Outlets Report on OIG Report Findings
On March 1, 2018, The New York Times and The Washington Post reported that the OIG report, completed in February but not yet publicly released, concluded that McCabe had approved an inappropriate disclosure to the media, specifically concerning the Wall Street Journal article from October 2016 that reported on disagreements between the FBI and Justice Department regarding the Clinton Foundation investigation.
March 14, 2018: FBI's Office of Professional Responsibility Recommends McCabe's Firing
On March 14, 2018, the FBI's Office of Professional Responsibility recommended that Andrew McCabe be fired based on the inspector general's conclusions.
March 2018: McCabe's Departure from the FBI
Andrew McCabe's time at the FBI came to an end in March 2018, marked by disagreements with the Trump administration.
March 2018: Report of McCabe Authorizing Investigation into Sessions
In March 2018, reports surfaced indicating that Andrew McCabe had authorized an investigation into whether Jeff Sessions had been truthful to Congress in 2017 regarding his interactions with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak. This authorization followed a referral from Congress in 2017.
March 16, 2018: McCabe Fired by Attorney General Jeff Sessions
On March 16, 2018, just one day before his planned retirement, Andrew McCabe was fired by Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Sessions cited concerns about McCabe's authorization of information releases and alleged misleading of investigators.
March 18, 2018: McCabe Officially Retires
McCabe officially retired on March 18, 2018, his 50th birthday, after going on paid leave. This allowed him to be eligible for his retirement pension.
March 19, 2018: McCabe's Retirement from the FBI
Although initially fired, the settlement in October 2021 recognized Andrew McCabe's service as continuous until his retirement on March 19, 2018, acknowledging his status as FBI Deputy Director.
March 21, 2018: FBI Director Wray Defends McCabe's Firing, Parallel Situation Emerges
On March 21, 2018, FBI Director Wray stated that McCabe's firing was not politically motivated, while reports surfaced that McCabe had authorized an investigation into Jeff Sessions' candor a year prior.
March 29, 2018: McCabe Launches GoFundMe for Legal Expenses
On March 29, 2018, McCabe started a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for legal costs associated with his defense.
July 2018: Justice Department Brings McCabe Case Before Grand Jury
Starting in July 2018, the Justice Department presented the McCabe case to a grand jury in an attempt to indict him based on the OIG report.
July 30, 2018: Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington Sues FBI Over FOIA Request
On July 30, 2018, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed a lawsuit against the FBI for their lack of response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request made in March.
2018: Nunes Memo Alleges McCabe Misconduct
The Nunes memo, prepared by the House Intelligence Committee in 2018, alleged that McCabe testified that no surveillance warrant would have been sought against Carter Page without the Steele dossier. This assertion, based on classified testimony, was disputed by Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell.
February 2019: McCabe's 60 Minutes Interview
In a February 2019 interview with Scott Pelley on 60 Minutes, Andrew McCabe revealed his actions following Comey's firing. He stated that he initiated an obstruction of justice investigation into President Trump, aiming to safeguard the Russia probe from potential interference.
August 2019: McCabe Files Lawsuit Against Trump Administration
In August 2019, Andrew McCabe filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration and senior officials alleging wrongful termination, defamation, and constitutional violations.
August 2019: McCabe Sues for Wrongful Termination, Seeks Full Pension Benefits
In August 2019, Andrew McCabe filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against the Justice Department, claiming that his dismissal was due to inappropriate political interference by Trump. He demanded his full law enforcement pension and associated benefits.
August 2019: McCabe Files Wrongful Termination Suit
In August 2019, Andrew McCabe took legal action by filing a lawsuit alleging wrongful termination against the Justice Department.
August 2019: McCabe Joins CNN as Contributor
In August 2019, McCabe joined CNN as a contributor, a move that attracted criticism from media critics and conservatives.
September 2019: Prosecutors Recommend Indictment Against McCabe
In September 2019, federal prosecutors recommended that Andrew McCabe face indictment for his alleged role in a leak investigation. However, a grand jury chose not to indict him.
September 2019: Grand Jury Declines to Indict McCabe, Attorneys Call for Investigation to Be Dropped
In September 2019, reports emerged that the grand jury had declined to indict McCabe. McCabe's attorneys argued that the Justice Department should end the investigation.
September 30, 2019: Durham Offers McCabe Plea Deal, McCabe Denies Offer and Judge Calls for Resolution
Reports emerged on September 30, 2019, that Durham had presented a plea deal to McCabe, which McCabe denied receiving. During a court hearing the same day, Federal Judge Reggie B. Walton urged prosecutors to either file charges against McCabe or drop the investigation.
November 14, 2019: Judge Criticizes Prosecutors, Releases Documents Related to McCabe Investigation
On November 14, 2019, Judge Walton criticized prosecutors, accusing them of using delaying tactics to avoid deciding on charges against McCabe. He then released the documents related to the investigation.
November 15, 2019: Judge Sets Deadline for Charges Against McCabe, Threatens Release of Documents
Judge Walton set a November 15, 2019 deadline for prosecutors to file charges against McCabe. He warned that he would order the release of the requested documents if no charges were filed by then.
December 9, 2019: Justice Department Report Clears McCabe of Partisan Actions
On December 9, 2019, the Justice Department Inspector General report concerning the Crossfire Hurricane investigation was released. This report did not find McCabe to have engaged in politically biased actions against Trump.
December 2019: Trump Nominates Liu for Treasury Position Amidst McCabe Investigation
In December 2019, while the investigation into McCabe was ongoing, Trump nominated Liu, the DOJ official overseeing the case, for a position in the Treasury Department.
2019: McCabe Joins CNN
After his departure from the Trump administration, Andrew McCabe became a contributor at CNN in 2019.
February 1, 2020: DOJ Official Liu Transferred Amidst McCabe Investigation
On February 1, 2020, DOJ official Liu, responsible for overseeing the McCabe case, was transferred to the Treasury Department while awaiting confirmation for an undersecretary position. This occurred amidst the investigation into whether to indict McCabe.
February 14, 2020: Justice Department Declines to Prosecute McCabe
The Justice Department, on February 14, 2020, informed Andrew McCabe's legal team that they would not pursue prosecution against him.
February 15, 2020: Trump Tweets about McCabe Following Dropped Charges
On February 15, 2020, a day after the DOJ decided not to prosecute McCabe, Trump tweeted "IG RECOMMENDED MCCABE'S FIRING," a claim contradicted by the OIG report.
August 2020: McCabe Joins George Mason University Faculty
In August 2020, George Mason University welcomed Andrew McCabe to their Schar School of Policy and Government as a distinguished visiting professor.
September 2020: Court Allows McCabe's Lawsuit to Proceed
In September 2020, a federal judge denied the Justice Department's motion to dismiss McCabe's lawsuit, allowing the case to move forward.
October 14, 2021: DOJ Reverses McCabe's Firing, Settles Lawsuit
On October 14, 2021, the Justice Department settled a lawsuit filed by McCabe by reversing his firing. The settlement acknowledged McCabe's retirement in good standing and granted him his full pension and legal fees.
October 2021: McCabe Settles Wrongful Termination Suit
October 2021 marked the resolution of Andrew McCabe's wrongful termination lawsuit against the Justice Department. The settlement included the reinstatement of his retirement benefits and the expungement of his termination record.
October 27, 2021: Garland Testifies on McCabe Settlement
Attorney General Merrick Garland, during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on October 27, 2021, stated that the DOJ settled with McCabe due to the likelihood of losing the lawsuit.
July 2022: McCabe and Comey Face Invasive IRS Audits
In July 2022, The New York Times reported that McCabe and Comey were both selected for rare, invasive IRS audits after being fired from the FBI, sparking controversy and allegations of political targeting.
November 2022: Trump's Involvement in IRS Audits Alleged
In November 2022, reports emerged alleging that former President Trump directed his chief of staff to have the IRS target McCabe and Comey, a claim Trump denied. An investigation later concluded the audits were randomly selected.
December 2022: McCabe Launches Podcast on Trump Investigation
In December 2022, following the appointment of special counsel Jack Smith, McCabe started a podcast, "Jack," with Allison Gill to cover the investigation into former President Trump's handling of classified documents.
