The State Department Inspector General who was fired by President Trump late Friday was investigating his administration's use of emergency powers to sell weapons to Saudi Arabia despite congressional opposition, according to a senior Democratic lawmaker.
The watchdog office was also looking into whether Pompeo used staff to run personal errands, according to a congressional aide.While it's not clear why the president decided to remove Linick, his removal amid at least two investigations into the administration's handling of the agency has spurred outrage that he was sacked for doing his oversight job. Two senior Democratic lawmakers are now investigating his firing.
The chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., said in a statement to ABC News that the OIG's investigation into the Saudi weapons sale"may be another reason for Mr. Linick's firing." President Donald Trump listens to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during a cabinet meeting at the Cabinet Room of the White House, Oct. 21, 2019, in Washington.The top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., has joined Engel in demanding the administration turn over documents related to Linick's firing by Friday as part of their own investigation into his removal.
In a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Trump said only that he"no longer" had"the fullest confidence" in Linick's ability to help the administration"promote the economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of Federal programs and activities." The president is entitled to remove inspectors general, although they are confirmed to their roles by the Senate.
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