WASHINGTON, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Former Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Andrew McCabe was fired by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Friday, shortly before his retirement, local media reported.
Sessions has reportedly accepted an internal recommendation to fire him, which accused McCabe of leaking information to the media.
"After an extensive and fair investigation...the department's Office of the Inspector General provided its report on allegations of misconduct by Andrew McCabe," Sessions said in a statement Friday night.
The FBI then issued a disciplinary proposal recommending the dismissal of McCabe, Sessions said, adding that McCabe was found to have "made an unauthorized disclosure to the news media and lacked candor on multiple occasions."
McCabe turns 50 on Sunday, when he would be eligible to receive substantial retirement benefits. McCabe had previously announced his intention to retire on Sunday.