Meghan McCain Clashes With McCabe: ‘I’m Not Convinced’ This Isn’t a PR Campaign to Stop Your Indictment

The first segment of Andrew McCabe‘s appearance on The View Tuesday was relatively tame. But at the outset of the second, Meghan McCain challenged the former FBI deputy director in what was a highly tense clash.

“I don’t believe you’re a reliable narrator,” McCain said. “And I’m not convinced this isn’t just some kind of PR campaign to stop yourself from getting indicted. You were fired at the recommendation of the FBI — which, in your book, you cite four times how great of an organization it is, for your lack of candor. I would like you to say right here on national TV that you were not a source for The New York Times. You were never a source for The New York Times or any other publication — considering that is what you were accused of lying about.”

McCabe was visibly taken aback by the question and sat silent for a moment. McCain took the opportunity to parse down her query.

“Basically, were you ever a leaker to The New York Times?”

Finally, McCabe responded.

“Absolutely not,” he said. “Not at any time ever. You should understand, Meghan, when I was serving as deputy director, I was one of two people in the FBI that had the authority to disclose information to the media. That is an FBI policy, it’s baked into the way that we run media relations in the organization. So I transacted on issues regarding the media every single day.”

McCain followed up.

“Then why did James Comey deny the claim that he approved your leaks to the press?”

“I don’t know why Jim Comey doesn’t remember the conversations that we had in the same way that I do,” McCabe replied. “It is understandable. He was under an enormous amount of stress at the time. He had a lot of other more important things to worry about. I can’t explain why he doesn’t remember them the same way I do.”

Watch above, via ABC.

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