Andrew McCabe forced to step down as deputy director of the FBI after facing public bashings from Trump

Deputy FBI director Andrew McCabe has been pressured to step down from his position ahead of his planned departure.

McCabe has been a target of President Donald Trump's wrath since the campaign over donations made to his wife's Virginia Senate campaign by Hillary Clinton allies, reported NBC News.

CBS News reported that McCabe was forced to step down amid pressure by the president and congressional Republicans on Justice Department officials investigating Trump campaign ties to Russia.

McCabe's office first arranged an FBI interview with then-national security adviser Mike Flynn, who later pleaded guilty to lying to investigators and agreed to cooperate with the special counsel probe.

The president reportedly asked McCabe who he voted for in the presidential election during an Oval Office meeting after Trump fired FBI director James Comey.

FBI director Christopher Wray reportedly threatened to resign after Trump asked him to fire McCabe, who had planned to retire early this year.

He will remain on the FBI payroll until he's eligible to retire with full benefits in mid-March.

Trump complained in December that McCabe intended to retire with full benefits.