Acting FBI director says Russia probe won’t be derailed

WASHINGTON - Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe on Thursday rejected the White House's characterization of the Russian meddling probe as a low priority and delivered a passionate defense of former Director James Comey - putting himself squarely at odds with the president while the bureau's future hangs in the balance.

McCabe, who had been the No. 2 official in the FBI until President Donald Trump fired Comey this week, said the bureau considered the probe of possible coordination between the Kremlin and the Trump team during the 2016 election campaign a 'highly significant investigation” that would not be derailed because of a change in leadership.

'You cannot stop the men and women of the FBI from doing the right thing, protecting the American people and upholding the Constitution,” McCabe said.

McCabe's assertion, which came during a hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee, contradicted a White House spokeswoman's description of the Russian case as 'probably one of the smallest things that they've got going on their plate.”

McCabe also promised that if the White House tried to interfere in the bureau's work, he would alert the committee, and he said he would not offer any status updates about the matter to the president or those who work for him.

The hearing Thursday was supposed to have been one at which Comey appeared with other top intelligence officials to discuss threats to the United States across the globe. But after Comey was fired Tuesday, the discussion of threats turned largely to Russia and the integrity of the FBI.

McCabe is not certain to remain as the FBI's acting director. He was elevated to the post essentially by default, and on Wednesday, Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein interviewed four candidates to find a short- term replacement. But it's possible McCabe could stay on.

Ultimately, Trump will have to nominate a permanent replacement, and that person will have to undergo the Senate confirmation process.

McCabe did not seem concerned with winning Trump's favor. Asked by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., whether he would 'refrain” from providing 'updates to the president or anyone else in the White House on the status of the” Russia probe, McCabe said unequivocally, 'I will.”

McCabe also rejected the president's assertions that Comey 'was not doing a good job” and that the bureau was 'in turmoil.” McCabe acknowledged that there were some in the agency who were 'frustrated with the outcome” of the investigation of Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server while she was secretary of state - the handling of which was cited as a rationale for firing Comey.

But McCabe defended leadership at the bureau and praised Comey.

'Director Comey enjoyed broad support within the FBI and still does to this day,” he said.

White House principal deputy press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders later disputed that.

'I have heard from countless members of the FBI that are grateful on the president's decision, and we may have to agree to disagree,” she said.