President Donald trump fired this Friday the inspector general of the Department of StateSteve Linick, indicate US media.
NBC News reported that the president informed his decision in a letter to the president of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, in which he did not give any specific reason for his action. Trump wrote that he “no longer” had complete confidence in the State Department inspector general.
“As is the case with respect to other positions in which I, as President, have the power of appointment, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, it is vital that I have the utmost confidence in the appointments that serve as Inspectors General. . That is no longer the case with respect to this Inspector General, “the letter said.
“The firing of the State Department inspector general late at night accelerated the president’s dangerous pattern of retaliation against patriotic public servants charged with overseeing on behalf of the American people,” Pelosi said in a statement. Linick, appointed by the administration of Barack Obama, to be replaced by Stephen Akard, a former Foreign Service career official with close ties to Vice President Mike Pence, according to The Associated Press.
You can read: US senator accused of influence peddling departs from office
Politician reported that Representative Eliot L. Engel, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, called Linick’s firing a “outrageous act by a president trying to protect one of his most loyal supporters, the secretary of state, of accountability. “
Engel stated: “I learned that the Office of the Inspector General had opened an investigation into the secretary Pompeo. The dismissal of Mr. Linick in the midst of such an investigation strongly suggests that this is an illegal act of retaliation. “
Also read: Former Health Agency Director Warns US Lacks Plan Against Covid-19
A Democratic congressman said Linick had launched an investigation into Pompeo’s alleged misuse of a person designated to perform personal tasks for himself and Ms. Pompeo. The State Department did not respond to a query about the accusation.
Linick played a minor role in the House impeachment proceedings against Trump, conveying documents to lawmakers that Rudy Giuliani, the president’s personal attorney, had turned over to the State Department.
jabfrcr
– .
