FBI Deputy Director, Andrew McCabe, steps down from his position today, and there are many speculations as to why he is leaving the FBI. Outside sources state that he was told to leave while internal sources state it was his choice. Currently, it is unclear why the director has decided to leave a few months before his retirement in March.

As he has 20 years in the service, McCabe is able to retire when he turns 50 years old on March 18 of this year, and this still allows him to receive his pension. Although he announced his decision at a staff meeting earlier today (Jan.

29), he will still receive benefits until his 50th birthday. On the other hand, he will be relieved of his duties until then.

What caused McCabe’s sudden departure?

According to CBS News, the deputy director has received backlash from the Republican party as he replaced former Director James Comey. President Trump fired Comey earlier this year, as the investigations into the Russians altering the election results continued. McCabe has been accused of being close with his former boss, thus causing the assumption he must be taking his former boss’s side.

Once McCabe took over the position, the president asked him who he voted for in the 2016 election. Last week, the Washington Post reported Trump’s anger toward McCabe’s wife’s ties to the Clinton family.

It is also speculated that Attorney General Jeff Sessions pressured FBI Director Christopher Wray to fire McCabe. President Trump denies this accusation.

Republicans have long been skeptical of McCabe since the Clinton email scandal. According to Wall Street Journal, in 2015, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe gave McCabe’s wife $500,000 in donations, and along with other Democrats, encouraged McCabe to run for a seat in the Senate.

Governor McAuliffe is a close ally of the Clinton’s. This act was also alarming to the Republicans, as McCabe had been leading the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s e-mails.

Who will take McCabe’s position?

It is rumored that David Bowdich will take McCabe’s place. Bowdich is well known for his involvement in the 2015 mass shooting in San Bernardino.

A former agent, Frank Montoya Jr., describes Bowdich as “fair” and “objective,” according to an article published by Newsweek earlier today.

Republicans are fighting to remove officials from the bureau who served alongside former Director James Comey. This may not become a reality, as Newsweek reports Bowdich as being a witness regarding Trump’s request for the FBI to stop investigating former national security advisor, Michael Flynn. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein of the Department of Justice will most likely be making the final decision on Bowdich taking on the role of Deputy Director.
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