So not pension related ... so why now then?
Fed LEOs have early or regular retirement.
They kept him around to have leverage to testify to Congress and the Inspector Generals investigations.
He testified, now he can go lawyer up on his own dime.
So he claimed he was going to take a whole bunch down with him,(or was that McCabe?) lets all Buy Popcorn and enjoy the show. If stories all of a sudden start appearing from the Compost, Huffington trash and Slimes about shenanigans pulled by his higher ups we’ll know he is making good on his threats.
“so why now then?”
My guess is that he was kept on the books until after he testified to Congress.
The testimony, and the firing, were likely timed as part of a program of events, leading up to the elections in November.
I’m guessing that there will be a string of testimony (Bruce Ohr up next), firings (Bruce Ohr up next?), document releases, and probably indictments leading up to the election.
Something extra juicy would likely be saved for late October. We still have all the leak investigations underway, and the full list of payments for Congressional sexual harassment has not been released yet. Democrats are an embarrassment of riches, as far as potential scandal goes.
The Dems will predictably roll out their usual last minute smears. Gloria Allred and her daughter Lisa Bloom will come out with women alleging sexual misconduct against Republicans (which will all vaporize right after the election). Robert Mueller will roll out some kind of media fodder.
But the scandals that will be dropping on the Dems will be real, and that gives them a bit of an advantage this season.