McCabe forced out amid IG probe around Weiner’s laptop

New details emerged Tuesday about what caused FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe to get forced out – including a revelation that the bureau’s inspector general was focusing in on why it took him weeks to examine Clinton emails discovered on Rep. Anthony Weiner’s laptop.

The inspector general, who is conducting a probe of the FBI’s 2016 Clinton email probe as well as its Trump Russia probe, wants to know who at the FBI and Justice Department knew about the emails on Weiner’s laptop and when they learned about them, the Washington Post reported.

Weeks before the 2016 election, it was revealed that a previously unknown cache of Hillary Clinton’s emails had been stored the laptop of the former New York representative.

Investigators later found they had been backed up from devices used by Huma Abedin, the longtime staff aide of Clinton who is married to the disgraced ex-lawmaker.

Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe abruptly left his post Monday. On Tuesday the Washington Post reported an inspector general is probing how he responded to the discovery of new emails on Rep. Anthony Weiner’s laptop

Weiner quit Congress after his on-line sexting was exposed. DailyMail.com reported in 2016 he was still sexting with a girl who told him she was just 15, prompting authorities to seize his laptop, which in turn led to discovery of more Clinton emails.

Investigators ultimately found they did not alter the decision not to prosecute Clinton for violating security laws.

The Post reported that some members of law enforcement are concerned that the issue seemed to die on McCabe’s desk for a period of time. Others countered that it took time to evaluate whether the emails were relevant.

The FBI has historically been wary of undertaking matters that could be perceived as tilting an election. Clinton, in her post-election book tour, has listed the FBI as one of the top reasons she believes she lost, for having announced it was essentially reopening its probe only to later say it had found nothing to change its conclusions.

New Clinton emails were discovered on former Rep. Weiner's laptop weeks before Election Day. Here Huma Abedin and Anthony Weiner attend "The Twelfth Annual CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Awards" at Spring Studios in New York City

New Clinton emails were discovered on former Rep. Weiner’s laptop weeks before Election Day. Here Huma Abedin and Anthony Weiner attend ‘The Twelfth Annual CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Awards’ at Spring Studios in New York City

Former FBI Director James Comey testified in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee, on his past relationship with President Donald Trump, and his role in the Russian interference investigation, in the Senate Hart building on Capitol Hill, on Thursday, June 8, 2017

Former FBI Director James Comey testified in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee, on his past relationship with President Donald Trump, and his role in the Russian interference investigation, in the Senate Hart building on Capitol Hill, on Thursday, June 8, 2017

The IG, Michael E. Horowitz, is exploring why the FBI’s leadership appeared unwilling to explore the emails found on Weiner’s machine, according to the Post. 

The new Trump-appointed FBI Director, Christopher Wray, alluded to the IG report in a  letter to staff send Monday.  

‘It would be inappropriate for me to comment on specific aspects of the IG’s review right now,’ Wray said in the message, NBC reported. ‘But I can assure you that I remain staunchly committed to doing this job, in every respect, ‘by the book.’ I will not be swayed by political or other pressure in my decision making.’ 

Weiner is currently serving a 21-month sentence for sexting with a minor. He is doing time at a low security facility in Massachusetts. He is at Federal Medical Center Devens, a medical facility, although that does not mean he is getting treatment.

Former FBI Director James Comey informed lawmakers of the existence of the emails in an Oct. 28th letter. 

Clinton emails were discovered on Weiner's laptop after authorities seized electronic devices following a DailyMail report on his sexting with a teen

Clinton emails were discovered on Weiner’s laptop after authorities seized electronic devices following a DailyMail report on his sexting with a teen

McCabe has been at the center of a furious battle between the the White House and congressional Democrats over the Russia investigation, as Trump blasts the FBI as a biased organization that is out to get him and House Republicans attack the Robert Mueller investigation.

McCabe, 49, a career official, left abruptly by noon Monday, but will be allowed to remain on the payroll until mid-March.

Further strains of information that McCabe was under pressure the IG counter another narrative of his firing: the intense display of public pressure orchestrated by President Trump, who is under scrutiny by special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia probe.

In December, Trump took the extraordinary step of ridiculing McCabe online, after a report that he was running out the clock on his government service amid intense pressure.

‘FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe is racing the clock to retire with full benefits. 90 days to go?!!!’ wrote Trump.

In July, Trump wrote: ‘“Why didn’t A.G. Sessions replace Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe, a Comey friend who was in charge of Clinton investigation….’

President Trump mocked McCabe, the second-ranking FBI official, on Twitter in December

President Trump mocked McCabe, the second-ranking FBI official, on Twitter in December

TAKE TWO ASPIRIN: President Trump reportedly told McCabe to ask his wife, Jill, how it feels to be a loser

TAKE TWO ASPIRIN: President Trump reportedly told McCabe to ask his wife, Jill, how it feels to be a loser

Trump also wrote a day earlier: ‘Problem is that the acting head of the FBI & the person in charge of the Hillary investigation, Andrew McCabe, got $700,000 from H for wife!”

Trump also wrote in December: ‘.@FoxNews-FBI’s Andrew McCabe, ‘in addition to his wife getting all of this money from M (Clinton Puppet), he was using, allegedly, his FBI Official Email Account to promote her campaign. You obviously cannot do this. These were the people who were investigating Hillary Clinton.’”

The tweets were a reference to a PAC controlled by then-Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe to the state Senate campaign of McCabe’s wife, Jill, in 2015

The Washington Post reported that Trump met in the Oval Office with McCabe following the president’s decision to fire his predecessor, Comey.

‘Who did you vote for in the 2016 election?,’ Trump asked him, according to the report.



Read more at DailyMail.co.uk