Democrats blasted the Friday-night dismissal as an assault on the rule of law.
President Donald Trump has removed State Department Inspector General Steve Linick and replaced him with an ally of Vice President Mike Pence — the latest in a series of moves against independent government watchdogs in recent months.
Trump informed Congress of his intent to oust Linick, a Justice Department veteran appointed to the role in 2013 by then President Barack Obama, in a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Friday night.
The president said he “no longer” had the “fullest confidence” in Linick and promised to send the Senate a nominee “who has my confidence and who meets the appropriate qualifications.” The executive branch is required to notify Congress 30 days ahead of time if it intends to remove an inspector general.
Trump’s move infuriated Democrats who say he’s trying to circumvent oversight of his administration, undermining the ability of other branches to hold him accountable. The move follows Trump’s anger at being impeached, but it also comes as the White House struggles to combat the coronavirus pandemic just months before the presidential election.
“The president’s late-night, weekend firing of the State Department inspector general has accelerated his dangerous pattern of retaliation against the patriotic public servants charged with conducting oversight on behalf of the American people,” Pelosi said in an statement. “Inspector General Linick was punished for honorably performing his duty to protect the Constitution and our national security, as required by the law and by his oath.”
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State Department Inspector General Steve Linick has been fired, according to a senior administration official and a congressional aide.https://t.co/NAw2Z5ZqFT
— POLITICO (@politico) May 16, 2020Breaking: State Department Inspector General Steve Linick has been fired. Linick, a DOJ veteran appointed to the role in 2013 by Obama, is the latest of a slew of inspectors general to be ousted in recent months. https://t.co/0zXP4zBym6 via @meridithmcgraw @nahaltoosi
— Natasha Bertrand (@NatashaBertrand) May 16, 2020
It's the usual Friday.
The lawless White House directing a lawless Cabinet officer to fire an IG because, you know, IGs get in the way of all the criming.
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) May 16, 2020
every day these people do things that would be massive, months-long scandals in any other administration
— shauna (@goldengateblond) May 16, 2020
!!! Now Chairman of House Foreign Affairs Committee Rep. Eliot Engel says the State Inspector General was fired after opening an investigation into Secretary Pompeo
“Mr. Linick’s firing amid such a probe strongly suggests that this is an unlawful act of retaliation” pic.twitter.com/FfxVQ25lr7
— Robbie Gramer (@RobbieGramer) May 16, 2020
Linick letter by M Mali on Scribd
The IG purge continues. Happening right in front of us. https://t.co/v0LuvpvUre
— Brendan Nyhan (@BrendanNyhan) May 16, 2020
Exactly right. https://t.co/VxpRBKvgXW
— David French (@DavidAFrench) May 17, 2020
If the State Department IG opens an investigation into the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of State promptly gets the IG fired–isn't that…illegal?
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) May 16, 2020
I'm not sure there's even a point in noting GOP hypocrisy. They don't care. There's no debate left to have. No one is going to stop him as a matter either of principle or law. I wonder if GOP lawmakers are just hunkered down and betting – even hoping – that he loses. https://t.co/37gFkgfTZu
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) May 16, 2020
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