President Donald Trump fired the State Department's inspector general on the recommendation of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a White House official said Saturday.
Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., and Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., launched an investigation into Linick's removal Saturday, claiming Pompeo wanted the inspector general removed because the secretary was under investigation.
"Such an action, transparently designed to protect Secretary Pompeo from personal accountability, would undermine the foundation of our democratic institutions and may be an illegal act of retaliation," the lawmakers said in press release Saturday.
"As I've said before, Congress requires written reasons justifying an IG's removal," said Grassley, who co-chairs the Whistleblower Protection Caucus "A general lack of confidence simply is not sufficient detail to satisfy Congress."
In April, he removed Glenn Fine, who was appointed the watchdog of the $2 trillion coronavirus relief bill just days before Trump's move.
