House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Monday gave President Trump a 30-day deadline to explain his decision to fire State Department Inspector General Steve Linick.
“You are required to notify Congress of your removal of an Inspector General,” Pelosi wrote to Trump. “It is essential that you also inform Congress of the cause for the removal and your lack of confidence.”
Pelosi said Trump’s decision to fire Linick is part of “a pattern of undermining the integrity of the Inspectors General and therefore our government.”
Trump has fired five inspectors general since taking office.
Pelosi asked for “detailed and substantial justification” for Linick’s firing.
Trump wrote to Pelosi Friday to inform her he was replacing Linick because he lacked “the fullest confidence” in him.
But Pelosi is seeking more details.
“It is essential that you also inform Congress of the cause for the removal and your lack of confidence,” Pelosi wrote.
House Foreign Affairs Chairman Eliot Engel, a New York Democrat, had called on Linick to investigate Secretary of State Mike Pompeo over an arms sale to Saudi Arabia. Linick was also investigating Pompeo over allegations he used staff to perform personal chores.
*story by The Washington Examiner