Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe Andrew George McCabeGraham: Comey to testify about FBI's Russia probe, Mueller declined invitation Barr criticizes DOJ in speech declaring all agency power 'is invested in the attorney general' GOP votes to authorize subpoenas, depositions in Obama-era probe MORE on Friday accused Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee of having "mischaracterized" his testimony used to bolster a controversial memo alleging surveillance abuses by FBI and Justice Department officials.

McCabe, who was fired Friday as the No. 2 FBI official, told CNN that information from an opposition research dossier on President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden leads Trump by 36 points nationally among Latinos: poll Trump dismisses climate change role in fires, says Newsom needs to manage forest better Jimmy Kimmel hits Trump for rallies while hosting Emmy Awards MORE's ties to Russia did not comprise the "majority" of information for the FBI's request to obtain a surveillance warrant on former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page.

"We started the investigations without the dossier. We were proceeding with the investigations before we ever received that information," McCabe told CNN. "Was the dossier material important to the package? Of course, it was. As was every fact included in that package. Was it the majority of what was in the package? Absolutely not."

ADVERTISEMENT

A memo released by Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee in early February said McCabe told the committee that "no surveillance warrant would have been sought" were it not for the information from the dossier compiled by former British spy Christopher Steele. The memo said the dossier information was "essential" in acquiring the warrants to monitor Page.

McCabe told CNN his testimony was "selectively quoted" and "mischaracterized" to bolster GOP claims that the Steele dossier was the key to obtaining a surveillance warrant on Page.

Republicans have blasted the Steele dossier, calling it unreliable because it was funded in part by the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonBiden leads Trump by 36 points nationally among Latinos: poll Democratic super PAC to hit Trump in battleground states over coronavirus deaths Battle lines drawn on precedent in Supreme Court fight MORE's campaign.

The memo, drafted by staff for Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes Devin Gerald NunesSunday shows preview: Justice Ginsburg dies, sparking partisan battle over vacancy before election Sunday shows preview: With less than two months to go, race for the White House heats up Sunday shows preview: Republicans gear up for national convention, USPS debate continues in Washington MORE (R-Calif.), did state conclusively that the investigation into whether Trump campaign officials had improper contacts with Russia began with information related to George PapadopoulosGeorge Demetrios PapadopoulosTale of two FBI cases: Clinton got warned, Trump got investigated Trump says he would consider pardons for those implicated in Mueller investigation New FBI document confirms the Trump campaign was investigated without justification MORE, the Trump campaign foreign policy aide who last year pleaded guilty to lying to FBI investigators about his foreign contacts.

The New York Times previously reported that Papadopoulos bragged to an Australian diplomat that Russians had damaging information on Clinton before the hack of the DNC became publicly known. The Australian government then reportedly tipped off the FBI to what Papadopoulos had said.

McCabe was fired Friday evening by Attorney General Jeff Sessions Jefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsGOP set to release controversial Biden report Trump's policies on refugees are as simple as ABCs Ocasio-Cortez, Velázquez call for convention to decide Puerto Rico status MORE, who said that the FBI's Office of Professional Responsibility and Office of the Inspector General had found McCabe made an unauthorized disclosure to the news 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 in a statement.