McCabe’s attorney, Michael Bromwich, released a statement Thursday afternoon saying they had been told of the referral. “We are confident that, unless there is inappropriate pressure from high levels of the Administration, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will conclude that it should decline to prosecute,” he said. News of the referral was first reported by The Washington Post.

Bruce Green, a former federal prosecutor who is now a law professor at Fordham University, emphasized the IG’s reputation for independence. “Inspector Generals and federal prosecutors often come under pressure, political and otherwise, especially in high-profile cases. If they are good at their jobs, they don’t respond to pressure, they adhere to internal policy and professional norms,” Green said. “One just can’t assume that, because McCabe’s case has political implications, the Inspector General succumbed to pressure or federal prosecutors will do so. “

Special Counsel Robert Mueller is currently investigating potential links between the 2016 Trump campaign and a Russian influence operation aimed at electing Trump, as well as potential obstruction of justice in connection with the president’s decision to fire former FBI Director James Comey last May. Trump has portrayed that inquiry as a “witch hunt” and accused the Bureau of being biased against him, an allegation for which there is scant evidence.

Nevertheless, David Gomez, a former FBI agent who is now a cyber and homeland-security fellow at George Washington University, said the president’s attacks were taking their toll.

“In talking to active-duty agents, what I find is that most are disgusted by the way a personnel matter of a dedicated career employee of the FBI is being played out in public, with vicious verbal attacks by the president now an almost daily occurrence,” Gomez said. “Rank-and-file agents work long hours, conduct sometimes dangerous investigations, and are now being labeled treasonous liars and criminals by some factions of the media, all because of the president’s anger and antipathy over Mr. Mueller’s Russia investigation. Many are now asking, ‘For what? To be attacked for doing our job?’”

We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to letters@theatlantic.com.