Updated February 10, 2025 at 22:04 PM ET
A judge on Monday granted a temporary reprieve to the leader of an independent federal ethics agency who filed a lawsuit claiming he was illegally fired by President Trump.
The move by Trump was the latest attempted removal of a political appointee that may violate the law.
The Office of Special Counsel investigates and prosecutes violations of "prohibited personnel practices" like whistleblower retaliation, enforces ethics laws like the Hatch Act, and protects employment rights of military veterans.
The office's leader, Hampton Dellinger, filed a lawsuit Monday in Washington, D.C., federal court after receiving a termination email Friday night.
"That email made no attempt to comply with the Special Counsel's for-cause removal protection," Dellinger's suit reads. "It stated simply: 'On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as Special Counsel of the US Office of Special Counsel is terminated, effective immediately.' "
Federal law says the special counsel may be removed by the president "only for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office."
On Monday evening, Judge Amy Berman Jackson issued an order that did not rule on the merits of the lawsuit, but said that Dellinger should continue in his role through midnight on Thursday.
In a statement, Dellinger said: "I am grateful to have the opportunity to continue leading the Office of Special Counsel and I am resuming my work...
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