Trump fires 4th Inspector General late last night
Inspector generals are the apolitical watchdogs to ensure that things are done legally & properly, no matter who is in power. Last night Trump fired another one and plans on replacing him with a Pence crony. This is by far, the most corrupt administration is US history.About an hour ago in USA Today;
In response to:
Democrats launch investigation into Mike Pompeo's firing of State Department inspector general
Deirdre Shesgreen
USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – Top congressional Democrats opened an inquiry Saturday into Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's ouster of a government watchdog and accused Pompeo of trying to shield himself from an internal probe.
In a joint letter, Rep. Eliot Engel, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Sen. Bob Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called on the White House and the State Department to "preserve all records related to the firing" of Inspector General Steve Linick.
“President Trump’s unprecedented removal of Inspector General Linick is only his latest sacking of an inspector general, our government’s key independent watchdogs, from a federal agency," the two lawmakers said on Saturday in a series of letters demanding documents related to Linick's firing.
"Reports indicate that Secretary Pompeo personally made the recommendation to fire Mr. Linick," Engel and Menendez said, "and it is our understanding that he did so because the Inspector General had opened an investigation into wrongdoing by Secretary Pompeo himself."
A senior State Department official said Pompeo’s move to fire the agency’s top watchdog “blindsided everybody” and smacks of “political retaliation.”
The person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, confirmed the Inspector General, Steve Linick, was investigating Pompeo’s use of State Department staff to run personal errands for himself and his wife.
“If Secretary Pompeo is involved in firing his IG – who is heading up that investigation – then that is definitely retaliatory,” the person said. “Someone obviously has something to hide that they don't want the IG to find out about.”
The State Department press office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the allegations that Linick's ouster was a move to shield Pompeo from an internal probe and an act of political retaliation.
On Friday, the State Department said an ally of Vice President Mike Pence would take over Linick's role at the helm of the IG's office.
The White House is required to give Congress 30 days notice before removing an IG, which President Donald Trump did Friday night in a letter sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., at about 8:30 p.m.
"It is vital that I have the fullest confidence in the appointees serving as Inspectors General. That is no longer the case with regard to this Inspector General," Trump wrote.
A State Department official declined to say why Linick was fired.
But Democrats said it was part of a broader pattern of purges the White House has undertaken to remove government watchdogs charged with ferreting out malfeasance and corruption.
“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 a statement Friday night.
Linick was fired "for honorably performing his duty," she added.
The senior State Department official said that based on his interactions with Linick, the IG is a by-the-book investigator with no political agenda.
"The guy has never picked sides politically. He's just a straight shooter when it comes to doing his job for the taxpayer," the person said.
Democrats launch investigation into Mike Pompeo's firing of State Department inspector general
Deirdre Shesgreen
USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – Top congressional Democrats opened an inquiry Saturday into Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's ouster of a government watchdog and accused Pompeo of trying to shield himself from an internal probe.
In a joint letter, Rep. Eliot Engel, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Sen. Bob Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called on the White House and the State Department to "preserve all records related to the firing" of Inspector General Steve Linick.
“President Trump’s unprecedented removal of Inspector General Linick is only his latest sacking of an inspector general, our government’s key independent watchdogs, from a federal agency," the two lawmakers said on Saturday in a series of letters demanding documents related to Linick's firing.
"Reports indicate that Secretary Pompeo personally made the recommendation to fire Mr. Linick," Engel and Menendez said, "and it is our understanding that he did so because the Inspector General had opened an investigation into wrongdoing by Secretary Pompeo himself."
A senior State Department official said Pompeo’s move to fire the agency’s top watchdog “blindsided everybody” and smacks of “political retaliation.”
The person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, confirmed the Inspector General, Steve Linick, was investigating Pompeo’s use of State Department staff to run personal errands for himself and his wife.
“If Secretary Pompeo is involved in firing his IG – who is heading up that investigation – then that is definitely retaliatory,” the person said. “Someone obviously has something to hide that they don't want the IG to find out about.”
The State Department press office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the allegations that Linick's ouster was a move to shield Pompeo from an internal probe and an act of political retaliation.
On Friday, the State Department said an ally of Vice President Mike Pence would take over Linick's role at the helm of the IG's office.
The White House is required to give Congress 30 days notice before removing an IG, which President Donald Trump did Friday night in a letter sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., at about 8:30 p.m.
"It is vital that I have the fullest confidence in the appointees serving as Inspectors General. That is no longer the case with regard to this Inspector General," Trump wrote.
A State Department official declined to say why Linick was fired.
But Democrats said it was part of a broader pattern of purges the White House has undertaken to remove government watchdogs charged with ferreting out malfeasance and corruption.
“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 a statement Friday night.
Linick was fired "for honorably performing his duty," she added.
The senior State Department official said that based on his interactions with Linick, the IG is a by-the-book investigator with no political agenda.
"The guy has never picked sides politically. He's just a straight shooter when it comes to doing his job for the taxpayer," the person said.
(continued below in my first comment)
Comments (13)
It could be any time of day or night. I won't mind.
He knows it, he uses it, and if they are not a TRUMPER and do as they are being told then (off with their heads).
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH..........Jim, let him go awayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.
Lame excuses will not suffice !
He has to submit them in writing.