If you thought there was a teensy chance that Fox News gets inside information from the Trump White House, the “news” network provided you with plenty of evidence you were right when they accidentally published a draft they were preparing for former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe’s firing.
Someone at Fox News accidentally published the draft of a “McCabe fired” story, even though the firing hasn’t happened. Twitterers are starting to share the link, thinking it’s real. pic.twitter.com/QZPkLcyFLN
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) March 16, 2018
Fox News says that the draft was being prepared just in case he was fired for his “handling of the bureau during the early months of the Russia investigation, and his ties to the Democratic Party” as well as his ” handling of the Clinton email probe.”
Hours after Fox accidentally announced McCabe’s termination, he was fired just before he was set to retire — a completely political firing urged by Trump intended to punish the career public servant for being a witness in Robert Mueller’s Russia probe –as he noted in a statement:
This attack on my credibility is one part of a larger effort not just to slander me personally, but to taint the FBI, law enforcement, and intelligence professionals more generally. It is part of this Administration’s ongoing war on the FBI and the efforts of the Special Counsel investigation, which continue to this day. Their persistence in this campaign only highlights the importance of the Special Counsel’s work.
Trump, of course, called the termination a “great day for democracy”:
Andrew McCabe FIRED, a great day for the hard working men and women of the FBI – A great day for Democracy. Sanctimonious James Comey was his boss and made McCabe look like a choirboy. He knew all about the lies and corruption going on at the highest levels of the FBI!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 17, 2018
Is it possible that Fox News was just preparing in case McCabe was fired? Sure, why not? But it wouldn’t be the first time Republicans leaked information to Fox News in recent history.
Naturally, no one believes Fox’s narrative:
WTF did @FoxNews accidentally put out a story about Andrew McCabe being fired hours before the decision was announced. This direct link between the WH and Fox News on National Security matters needs to be investigated and stoppedhttps://t.co/vSefNHyIAo
— Olga_Lautman NYC .. (@olgaNYC1211) March 17, 2018
So that @FoxNews story about Andrew McCabe’s firing earlier today was clearly them getting a heads up on this move from the administration right?
— Ahmed Baba (@AhmedBaba_) March 17, 2018
Fox “News” mistakenly posted a draft announcement of the McCabe firing hours before Sessions announced it. Trump ordered his firing months ago, Sessions rushed the decision through to meet Trump’s 90 day deadline, then leaked it to State media. We are living in a Banana Republic. https://t.co/XWhGhULnQp
— Facts Do Matter (@WilDonnelly) March 17, 2018
Trump has been dangerous for a long time, but it is reaching the point that if Republicans can’t summon an ounce of patriotism soon it will be too late.