Andrew McCabe

Andrew McCabe
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Name	Andrew McCabe
Birth date	28 March 1968
Birth place	Voorhees Township, New Jersey
Occupation	FBI official; author
Alma mater	William & Mary; Georgetown University Law Center
Years active	1996–2018

Andrew McCabe (born March 28, 1968) is a former senior official of the Federal Bureau of Investigation who served as Deputy Director and briefly as Acting Director. He was a prominent figure during investigations into the 2016 election, the Russian interference controversies, and the early stages of probes involving the Trump administration. His career and dismissal prompted scrutiny from the United States Department of Justice, Congressional committees, and the federal judiciary.

Early life and education

McCabe was born in Voorhees Township, New Jersey and raised in a family with ties to Virginia. He attended Phillips Exeter Academy before matriculating at the College of William & Mary, where he studied international relations and political science. He later earned a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center, and completed training at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. During his youth he was influenced by figures and institutions such as Robert F. Kennedy, George H. W. Bush, Ronald Reagan, and policy debates surrounding the Cold War and post‑Cold War era.

Career in the FBI

McCabe joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1996, serving in field offices including Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.. He worked on investigations involving public corruption, counterintelligence, and national security, interacting with entities such as the Central Intelligence Agency, Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration, and state law enforcement partners. Over his career he handled matters touching on cases related to the International Criminal Court, counterterrorism responses post‑September 11 attacks, and probes involving figures from the White House and United States Congress. He rose through ranks by managing complex inquiries that intersected with agencies like the National Security Agency and multinational law enforcement organizations such as INTERPOL.

Tenure as Deputy Director and Acting Director

In 2016 McCabe was appointed Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, serving under Director James Comey. During the aftermath of the 2016 election he intermittently served as Acting Director following Comey’s dismissal by Donald Trump. In that capacity he oversaw elements of the FBI’s investigations into alleged Russian meddling, contacts between Russian officials and members of the Trump campaign, and related counterintelligence matters. His tenure placed him before oversight bodies including the United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and hearings connected to the Mueller investigation. He coordinated with officials from the Department of Justice, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and intelligence community partners such as the FBI Counterintelligence Division.

Firing, Inspector General report, and legal proceedings

In 2018 McCabe was dismissed by Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker at the direction of the Department of Justice following a report by the DOJ Office of the Inspector General that alleged he lacked candor in interviews about disclosures to the media. The report and firing prompted reactions from members of Congress including Senator Chuck Grassley, Representative Elijah Cummings, and Senator Ron Wyden, and led to litigation in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and appellate filings before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. McCabe pursued administrative appeals with the Merit Systems Protection Board and later sued the Department of Justice alleging wrongful termination and constitutional violations; subsequent settlements and rulings involved offices such as the Office of Professional Responsibility and drew commentary from legal scholars at institutions including Harvard Law School and Yale Law School.

Post-FBI activities and media/publications

After leaving the FBI McCabe became a public commentator and author, engaging with media outlets including NBC News, CNN, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. He published a memoir addressing his tenure and the investigations in which he was involved, contributing to public debates alongside other memoirists such as James Comey and Robert Mueller. McCabe has appeared at events hosted by academic institutions including Georgetown University, Columbia University, and Stanford University, and has testified before congressional committees. He has also been involved with think tanks and nonprofit organizations, speaking on topics related to intelligence oversight, civil liberties, and the role of the Department of Justice.

Personal life and legacy

McCabe is married and has family ties in Virginia; his spouse has been employed in health care and nonprofit sectors with interactions in contexts such as state political organizations and public policy advocacy. His career has left a contested legacy among public officials, commentators, and legal experts: supporters cite his record on counterintelligence and public corruption cases, while critics reference the Inspector General findings and policy disputes with the Trump administration. His experiences have become part of broader discussions involving institutional independence at agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Department of Justice, congressional oversight, and the protections afforded by civil service law.

Category:1968 births Category:Living people Category:Federal Bureau of Investigation people Category:College of William & Mary alumni Category:Georgetown University Law Center alumni