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Investigators also uncovered other instances of serious misconduct by the FBI agent. | Getty No criminal charges for FBI agent found to have leaked, lied and mishandled classified information

An FBI agent found to have leaked sensitive information to witnesses, mishandled classified information and lied to investigators will not face criminal charges and appears to have retired while an inquiry into his conduct was underway, according to the Justice Department Office of Inspector General.

An investigative summary posted online by the department’s internal watchdog unit on Monday is short on details, but says investigators opened an investigation after receiving allegations that the unidentified special agent “contacted witnesses in a criminal investigation for an improper purpose.”

“The OIG found that the SA contacted individuals who he either knew were, or had reasonable belief would be witnesses in the criminal investigation and that the SA’s contacts with several individuals appeared to be designed to improperly influence their prospective testimony,” the statement said. “Accordingly, the OIG concluded that the SA’s contacts with the witnesses were improper and constituted misconduct.”

Investigators also uncovered other instances of serious misconduct by the agent, saying he “divulged law enforcement sensitive information to unauthorized individuals; misused his government issued electronic devices; provided misleading testimony during a related civil deposition; mishandled classified information; misused his position during contacts with local law enforcement officers; and provided false information to the OIG.”

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The summary does not say where the agent was based, whether he was in a supervisory position or when the OIG was asked to investigate.

“Criminal prosecution of the SA was declined,” the statement from the office of Inspector General Michael Horowitz said.

Spokespeople for the FBI and Horowitz declined to comment.

The disclosure of the inspector general’s findings comes amid intense scrutiny of the process for disciplining and, when appropriate, prosecuting FBI officials for misconduct. Accusations have been flying of double standards for similar conduct and of officials warping the usual process to achieve results desired by the White House.

Just last month, the Justice Department fired former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe a day before he was eligible to retire. An Office of Inspector General investigation had found that he provided false information to investigators, misled then-FBI Director James Comey and authorized disclosure of information about sensitive information to the media.

President Donald Trump has railed against McCabe for leaking, and publicly complained about the possibility that he might retire with his pension.

McCabe has denied intentionally misleading anyone. He has also argued that the deputy FBI director has authority to discuss investigations with the media. His lawyers have said he’s considering legal action over his firing and statements made about him by officials.

The inspector general’s scathing report on McCabe has been referred to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington for review of possible criminal charges, McCabe’s attorneys have confirmed.

Justice Department officials appear to have rushed the normal disciplinary process to get McCabe out before he could retire, lawyers who handle such cases have said.

A spokeswoman for McCabe declined to comment on any parallels between his case and the one revealed on Monday.

While the two cases do share some similarities, they are not perfectly alike. In the case that the inspector general’s office disclosed on Monday, the special agent appears to have retired while the investigation was pending. It is unclear whether his pension will be affected by the dismissal.

A highly anticipated report from the Justice Department’s inspector general on various actions taken at the FBI and the department in the lead-up to the 2016 presidential election is due out in the coming weeks. The review covers the conduct of a wide range of individuals related to the Clinton email investigation and other sensitive matters, including Comey, Justice Department officials and many FBI agents. Findings of misconduct could set off more discipline for officials involved, if they still work for the government.

