President Trump is receiving criticism for the firing of the State Department’s inspector general (IG), which caused House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D) to argue that a “dangerous pattern of retaliation” will be taken against federal watchdogs.
In response to the firing, Rep. Eliot L. Engel (D) and Senator Bob Menendez (D) have started an investigation into the release of Steve Linick, the State Department inspector general.
Commenting on the investigation, Engel, the chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, accused the firing to stem from Linick’s opening of an investigation into Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, saying that the timing suggests “an unlawful act of retaliation.”
In a letter regarding the investigation, Menendez warned that “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.”
Florida Democrats have also joined the fight with Florida Rep. Ted Deutch (D) taking to Twitter to slam the President and voice his support for the investigation.
On Twitter, Rep. Deutch argued that “POTUS’ firing of State Dept IG is part of a dangerous pattern to avoid any oversight.”
POTUS’ firing of State Dept IG is part of a dangerous pattern to avoid any oversight.
Congress will do our job. This is why we took yesterday’s vote to revise rules - oversight of this admin cannot wait.
I want to hear directly from Mr. Linick.https://t.co/MqUwdEIp1y
— Rep. Ted Deutch (@RepTedDeutch) May 16, 2020
He added that “Congress will do our job.” Citing a vote taken over the weekend, Deutch clarified that “this is why we took yesterday’s vote to revise rules – oversight of this admin cannot wait.”
As more Democrats continue to voice their support into the investigation surrounding the reasoning behind firing Linnick, Deutch declared that he was joining the House Foreign Affairs and Rep. Joaquin Castro (D), the Oversight Chair, “in calling for accountability.”
I join our @HouseForeign Oversight Chair @JoaquinCastrotx in calling for accountability. https://t.co/CHrYwMY66h
— Rep. Ted Deutch (@RepTedDeutch) May 16, 2020
On Friday, President Trump directed a letter to House Speaker Pelosi notifying her that Linnick no longer had his “fullest confidence” and that he would be removed in 30 days, which is the required period of advance notice to lawmakers.
