Hampton Dellinger, head of the US office of special counsel, has sued President Trump, alleging his firing was illegal. Dellinger, appointed for a five-year term, argues that special counsels can only be removed for cause. His dismissal is part of Trump’s broader effort to restructure federal agencies. The lawsuit challenges the administration's push to bypass civil service protections and dismantle key oversight bodies.
WASHINGTON: The head of the office of special counsel, a federal agency dedicated to protecting whistleblowers, sued President Donald Trump on Monday, saying he was illegally fired as part of the president's massive overhaul of the government.
Hampton Dellinger was informed of his firing in an email Friday evening from the White House personnel director, who said he was writing on behalf of the president. Dellinger's termination comes as Trump's Republican administration is testing the limits of well-established civil service protections by moving to dismantle federal agencies and push out staffers
Dellinger notes in his lawsuit, filed in Washington federal court, that special counsels can be removed by the president "only for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office." Dellinger was confirmed last year by the Senate for a five-year term to lead the watchdog agency.
"The effort to remove me has no factual nor legal basis - none - which means it is illegal," Dellinger said in an email.
The office of special counsel is responsible for...
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