The House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman, Eliot Engel, believes he knows why Donald Trump fired Steve Linick on Friday. Linick, the State Department’s Inspector General, had nearly completed an investigation into an $8 billion arms sale to Saudi Arabia. The sale in question was authorized by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Engel, a democrat, made a statement on the matter Monday. “I have learned that there may be another reason for Mr. Linick’s firing. His office was investigating — at my request — Trump’s phony declaration of an emergency so he could send weapons to Saudi Arabia. We don’t have the full picture yet, but it’s troubling that Secretary Pompeo wanted Mr. Linick pushed out before this work could be completed.”
In May of 2019, the Trump administration declared a state of emergency in order to bypass Congress on numerous arms deals. The move was, ostensibly, to stem the “dark influence” of Iran in the Middle East. By doing so, the Trump administration expedited billions of dollars in the sale of arms and ammunition. The countries purchasing these weapons included Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
At the time, Pompeo argued that the sale would help make the region safer. “These sales will support our allies, enhance Middle East stability, and help these nations to deter and defend themselves from the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the secretary of state told reporters during a press release.
Lawmakers in Congress, however, blasted the administration. Republicans and democrats alike condemned the move for setting a dangerous precedent.
Linick was also involved in an investigation into Pompeo’s treatment of a government aide. The investigation concerned whether Pompeo forced a staffer to perform personal chores and errands for him. According to sources close to the matter, Pompeo allegedly made a staffer walk his dog, make business travel booking, and pick up his dry cleaning.
However, democrats in Congress haven’t claimed that one of the investigations had any priority over the other. Which one contributed more to Linick’s dismissal? Also unclear.
However, the dismissal’s occurring during two investigations into the secretary of state is concerning to democrats.
Even republicans in Congress took issue with Linick’s sudden dismissal. Chuck Grassley of Iowa issued a statement on the move:
“As I’ve said before, Congress requires written reasons justifying an IG’s removal. A general lack of confidence simply is not sufficient detail to satisfy Congress.”
