The U.S. Attorney's Office in Washington, D.C., has interviewed former FBI Director James Comey about whether his deputy, Andrew McCabe, committed a crime by lying to federal agents, according to published reports.

What does this mean?

Although Comey’s interview is significant, it does not indicate that prosecutors have reached a conclusion, according to reports. A referral from the inspector general does not necessarily mean charges will be filed.

Lying to federal investigators is punishable by up to five years in prison.

Justice Department Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz accused McCabe of misleading investigators in April. Comey is also accused of making misleading statements about whether he authorized McCabe to release information to reporters.

Michael R. Bromwich, McCabe’s lawyer, released the following statement:

“A little more than a month ago, we confirmed that we had been advised that a criminal referral to the U.S. Attorney’s Office had been made regarding Mr. McCabe. We said at that time that we were confident that, unless there is inappropriate pressure from high levels of the administration, the U.S. Attorney’s Office would conclude that it should decline to prosecute. Our view has not changed.”

He also said “leaks concerning specific investigative steps the U.S. Attorney’s Office has allegedly taken are extremely disturbing.”

A Justice Department spokeswoman and a lawyer for Comey have not commented on the interview.

McCabe was fired in March, hours before he was set to retire with a pension. The Justice Department believes he lied to investigators over the Hillary Clinton email server scandal.

According to published reports, McCabe allowed two FBI officials to give information to the media about a separate criminal investigation of the Clinton Foundation. DOJ investigators say McCabe was not forthcoming when they asked him about it.

McCabe and Comey have disagreed with inspector general’s findings. McCabe maintains that Comey knew he disclosed information to the media. Comey, meanwhile, has said he could be a witness against McCabe if McCabe was ever tried, reports state.

Is this going to increase political bickering?

A Washington Post analysis states that the U.S. Attorney’s Office investigation into McCabe “is likely to intensify partisan squabbling, pitting respected law enforcement leaders against one another and potentially giving Trump ammunition to attack.”

In the past, President Donald Trump has criticized McCabe for political donations his wife received from an ally of Hillary Clinton. Trump has also said he did not fire McCabe over the ongoing investigation into whether his 2016 presidential campaign was involved any Russian interference or cooperation to help sway the outcome of the election.

Trump has repeatedly denied any collusion. On Thursday, he tweeted that "the Russian Hoax Investigation has now cost our government over $17 million, and going up fast. No Collusion, except by the Democrats!"