Pelosi Says Trump’s Firing Of State Department IG Steve Linick Could Be ‘Unlawful’

President Donald Trump sacked State Department inspector general Steve Linick earlier this month.

Linick was investigating the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who reportedly used the government staff for personal errands like getting dry cleaning and even walking his dog.

Democratic lawmakers reportedly began to scrutinize Linick’s dismissal. 

Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-California), during the interview with CBS, accused Trump’s motive behind the dismissal as retaliation for investigating Pompeo.

“The president has the right to fire any federal employee, but the fact is if it looks like it’s in retaliation for something that the IG, the inspector general, is doing, that could be unlawful,” Pelosi said. “They’re supposed to show cause.”

Sen Mitt Romney (R-Utah) also joined the criticism of Trump’s ousting of the Linick. He is one of the few Republicans to denounce Trump’s allegations and misconduct openly.

“The firings of multiple Inspectors General is unprecedented; doing so without good cause chills the independence essential to their purpose,” Romney wrote on twitter. “It is a threat to accountable democracy and a fissure in the constitutional balance of power.”

The firings of multiple Inspectors General is unprecedented; doing so
without good cause chills the independence essential to their purpose. It is a threat to accountable democracy and a fissure in the constitutional balance of power.

— Senator Mitt Romney (@SenatorRomney) May 16, 2020

Linick is the fourth inspector general Trump has sacked. He was appointed in 2013 under the Obama administration.