The following article by Julia Manchester was posted on the Hill website December 23, 2017:
Former CIA Director John Brennan came to the defense of two senior FBI officials on Saturday after President Trump targeted the pair on Twitter.
Brennan tweeted that FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe and top FBI lawyer James Baker “epitomize integrity, competence, and respect for rule of law.”
“Not surprised @realDonaldTrump fears them, along with the rest of FBI,” continued Brennan, who served as CIA chief under former President Obama.
“I just donated to @FBIAgentsAssoc as a small way of saying #thanksFBI,” Brennan tweeted, along with a link explaining how to donate to the association.
Brennan’s tweet came after Trump took took aim at the senior FBI officials earlier Saturday, ratcheting up his feud with leadership of the law enforcement agency.
Trump first jabbed at McCabe after it was reported he would be stepping down from his FBI post in March when he is eligible for full pension benefits. Trump wrote that the No. 2 FBI official is “racing the clock to retire with full benefits.”
The president then seized on reports that Baker was being reassigned, remarking “wow.”
News of Baker’s reassignment had emerged earlier this week.
Brennan, who served in both the Bush and Obama administrations, similarly spoke out against Trump on Thursday, saying the president shows “qualities usually found in narcissistic, vengeful autocrats.”
McCabe, meanwhile, spent hours before the House Intelligence Committee earlier this week, testifying on the bureau’s handling of the Russia probe.