Two House panels and one Senate committee will interview former State Department Inspector General Steve Linick about his ouster by President Trump
Donald John TrumpDonald Trump and Joe Biden create different narratives for the election The hollowing out of the CDC Poll: Biden widens lead over Trump to 10 points MORE Wednesday, according to the Associated Press.
Both the House Foreign Affairs and Oversight committees will interview Linick Wednesday, as will the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the AP reported, citing two congressional aides who spoke on conditions of anonymity.
The planned interviews in the House committees represent an expansion of a probe into several recent firings of agency watchdogs by the president. House Democrats hope to also interview several administration officials about Linick’s firing in mid-May and whether Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
Michael (Mike) Richard PompeoBritain and Europe need to step up their support for Hong Kong Take China seriously, not literally Sunday shows preview: Leaders weigh in as country erupts in protest over George Floyd death MORE recommended it as a retaliatory measure.
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Pompeo has not given a specific reason for the firing but denied it was meant as retaliation. He has said he recommended the dismissal to Trump and regretted not calling for it sooner.
“If Secretary Pompeo pushed for Mr. Linick’s dismissal to cover up his own misconduct, that would constitute an egregious abuse of power and a clear attempt to avoid accountability,” House Foreign Affairs Chair Eliot Engel
Eliot Lance EngelOvernight Defense: Democrats expand probe into State IG's firing | House schedules late June votes with defense bill on deck | New Navy secretary sworn in Democrats broaden probe into firing of State Department watchdog House chairman slams Pompeo for suggesting US could 'disconnect' from Australia over China deal MORE (D-N.Y.), House Oversight Chair Carolyn Maloney
Carolyn Bosher MaloneyGun control group rolls out House endorsements Overnight Defense: Pentagon watchdog sidelined by Trump resigns | Plan would reportedly bring troops in Afghanistan back by Election Day | Third service member dies from COVID-19 Business groups throw support behind House Democrat's bill to provide pandemic risk insurance MORE (D-N.Y.) and Senate Foreign Relations Ranking Member Bob Menendez
Robert (Bob) MenendezGovernment watchdog: 'No evidence' Pompeo violated Hatch Act with Kansas trips No time to be selling arms to the Philippines Senate panel approves Trump nominee under investigation MORE (D-N.J.) said in a joint statement Friday.
With the House out of session in the coming week, it’s unclear whether Linick will speak to committee members in person or through a video link. The committees have promised to release transcripts soon after completing each interview.
The committee has also requested interviews from Undersecretary of State for Management Brian Bulatao, Assistant Secretary for Political-Military Affairs Clarke Cooper, acting State Department legal adviser Mark String and Lisa Kenna, Pompeo’s executive secretary, the aides said.
Democrats in Congress have sought answers about reports that, at the time of his firing, Linick was investigating reports that Pompeo directed staffers to run personal errands for him. Pompeo has said it could not have been retaliatory because he was not aware of any such investigation at the time, but conceded he was aware of a separate probe into his approval of a multibillion-dollar arms sale to Saudi Arabia last year.
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