Former acting director of the FBI Andrew McCabe recently recounted his fear that the investigation by U.S law enforcement agencies would be quashed by the Trump administration. So, in order to protect the integrity of the investigation McCabe purportedly took unilateral steps to ensure that the investigation would be permitted to continue. However, when pressed on the details of actions taken McCabe was silent, and refused to provide any. McCabe is quoted as stating in substance “my actions were of a sensitive nature.”
Despite McCabe’s reluctance to divulge of his exacting protective measures of the “Trump Russia Collusion Investigation”, an evaluation of statements , court and public records permit extrapolation of a reasonable inference as to what Andrew McCabe likely did.
Obama, prior to his departure from the White House, took unprecedented measures in declassifying a plethora of documents making them readily available to the public , as well as formerly restricted government agencies.
Now, once Obama’s term as president ended, so did his authority. Upon Obama’s departure it was incumbent upon active members of government to ensure the integrity of the investigation.
And this is where Andrew McCabe enters the story. McCabe picked up where Obama had left off. To the extent that certain materials were a matter of national security, and weren’t available by-way of Obama’s document dump , McCabe remitted material to top ranking congressional member from both houses of their respective intelligence committees, known colloquially as the “ Gang of Eight, ” and whose members include :
United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence:
Adam Schiff (D), Chair;
Devin Nunes (R), Ranking Member
United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence:
Richard Burr (R), Chair
Mark Warner (D), Vice Chair
Leadership in the United States House of Representatives:
Nancy Pelosi (D), Speaker of the House
Kevin McCarthy (R), Minority Leader
Leadership in the United States Senate:
Mitch McConnell (R), Majority Leader
Chuck Schumer (D), Minority Leader
In addition to the gang of eight, I also suspect that select members of the FISA court were also appraised of the sensitive details of the impending Trump investigation. The FISA court exclusively supervises legal matters with national security implications. Members of the FISA court require senate confirmation, and are appointed by the chief justice of the United States Supreme Court. Access to records retained by the FISA court, are highly classified. And are limited, irrespective of security clearance level, to individuals on a need to know basis this is known formally as- Sensitive Compartmented Information.
The bottom line is, McCabe protected, and insulated the Trump Russia probe by circumventing the executive branch, while working in coordination with the judicial, and the legislative branches of government.
Although Andrew McCabe is rightly credited with protecting the Russia probe, the bulk of the credit must be ceded to President Obama, who’s quick witted response to Russian interference by way of document preservation will rightly be credited as a defining act of valor.