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(CNSNews.com) – Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) told CBS’s “Face the Nation” on Sunday that former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe’s firing was an “appropriate” punishment for someone accused of lying to the bureau and leaking classified documents.



“I would say that the facts with regard to McCabe are very important. It appears that the facts are from the inspector general's office, and the inspector general is something I'm a big fan of. They're objective. They are not partisan. They look at the facts. They basically have said that McCabe leaked classified documents. That's illegal, but then he also lied about leaking classified documents,” Paul said.





“And so the FBI are sticklers on this, and they don't tolerate lying from their agents. And so, if all that is true, I see no way that he could continue in his office, and that punishment is appropriate. I mean, look at it in comparison to General Flynn,” he added.



“General Flynn has been offered a year in jail for lying about something or misleading the FBI about something that was actually legal. So, here we have an instance where McCabe does something illegal and lies about it. I would say this is a greater offense than Flynn,” Paul said.



Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued a statement announcing McCabe’s firing Friday evening, saying the FBI’s Office of Professional Responsibility and Office of Inspector General found that McCabe made an unauthorized disclosure to the media and “lacked candor – including under oath – on multiple occasions.”



"Pursuant to Department Order 1202, and based on the report of the Inspector General, the findings of the FBI Office of Professional Responsibility, and the recommendation of the Department’s senior career official, I have terminated the employment of Andrew McCabe effective immediately," Sessions said.



When asked whether he’s seen the results of the investigation into McCabe which have not been made public and whether he was saying he agrees that McCabe should have been fired, Paul said, “If the facts are true as they have been reported in the media, that McCabe lied about releasing classified documents, yes, it's against the law to release classified documents and against the law to lie about it if the FBI asks you about it. So, that would be two significant infractions. And if they're true, absolutely he should be fired.