Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley: Trump has failed to justify ouster of watchdogs, fueling political speculation
WASHINGTON – A top Senate Republican said the Trump administration has failed to justify the ouster of two government watchdogs and suggested the vague rationale would fuel speculation that “political” motivations are at play.
The unusual rebuke – from Sen. Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican who has long supported government whistleblowers – comes amid intense congressional scrutiny of President Donald Trump’s decision to fire Steve Linick, the State Department’s inspector general, on May 15.
Grassley and other lawmakers have also raised alarms about Trump’s removal of Michael Atkinson, the inspector general for the intelligence community, who informed congressional leaders about a whistleblower complaint that led to the president’s impeachment.
“Without sufficient explanation, it’s fair to question the president’s rationale for removing an inspector general,” Grassley, normally a staunch Trump ally, said in a statement Wednesday.
The 4 ousted watchdogs:The Trump administration has recently moved to oust 4 government watchdogs. Here they are:
Grassley had demanded an explanation from the White House for Atkinson’s and Linick’s ouster, but said the response he received from White House Counsel Pat Cipollone was insufficient. In a May 26 letter, Cipollone asserted Trump’s “constitutional right” to remove the two inspector generals, who are charged with ferreting out corruption and waste inside the federal government.
“If the president has a good reason to remove an inspector general, just tell Congress what it is. Otherwise, the American people will be left speculating whether political or self interests are to blame,” Grassley said Wednesday. “That’s not good for the presidency or government accountability.”
