Media

CNN’s Toobin warns McCabe is in ‘perilous condition’ with emboldened Trump

by Joe Concha 02/14/20 09:36 AM CST

CNN chief legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin warned that former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe is in “a really perilous condition right now,” arguing President Trump is targeting him for prosecution.

McCabe was ousted in 2018 by then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who cited a report by the FBI’s inspector general that found McCabe without authority gave information to a news outlet and lied about the leak.

“Look, you can have grievances with James Comey,” Toobin told CNN anchor Don Lemon on Thursday night, referring to the former FBI director who was fired by Trump in 2017. “The idea [Comey] committed a crime is absurd. The person in a really perilous condition right now is the CNN contributor Andrew McCabe, who is under investigation from the U.S. attorney’s office right now. And, you know, has had his case dangling out there.”

“The president obviously wants Andy McCabe prosecuted,” Toobin added. “And it’s just grotesque that you have the president of the United States behaving this way with the power of prosecution exercised in this way.”

On Friday, the Justice Department said it would not bring criminal charges against McCabe.

Toobin’s comments come after four federal prosecutors resigned from the Roger Stone case following the Justice Department’s decision to back off the original recommendation for the longtime Trump associate to be sentenced to seven to nine years behind bars, which President Trump said was egregious after the recommendation was made public.

The president on Wednesday congratulated Attorney General William Barr for “taking charge” of the Stone case, which he dubbed “totally out of control” in a Wednesday tweet.

McCabe sued the Justice Department and FBI in August 2019, arguing that his termination was a politically motivated move stemming from Trump’s attacks against him and other Justice officials. The 51-year-old was hired as a CNN contributor a few weeks later.

CNN has signed several former intelligence officials in recent years, including former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and deputy national security adviser Tony Blinken, who both served during the Obama administration. Other hires include former House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Mich.).

Updated at 12:55 p.m.