Trump fires Inspectors General

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It’s a bad few weeks for Donald Trump. Although isn’t it always?

In the middle of national and international criticism from all sides for his string of failures over the COVID-19 crisis, Trump has fired several Inspectors General who are responsible for ensuring the government is acting legally, minimising waste and fraud and criminal behaviour, and implementing government policies. This is a strictly non-partisan role. Often the same IG will have issued harsh judgements against the last three administrations.

The following Inspectors General have been fired by Trump in recent weeks:

- Michael Atkinson, Inspector General of the Intelligence Community, who informed Congress of the whistleblower who witnessed the Trump Ukraine scandal.

- Glenn Fine, Inspector General of the Defence Department (previously Justice).

- Christi Grimm, Principal Deputy IG and Acting IG at Health and Human Services who had criticised PPE shortages.

- Steve Linick, IG at the state department, who co-operated with the impeachment enquiry, produced a report into the Trump administration retaliating against officials on political and ethnic grounds rather than on merit, and was producing another report into Mike Pompeo.

A President can only remove an Inspector General in very limited circumstances. Many politicians from both parties have claimed that the firings of Atkinson, Fine, and particularly Linick do not meet this test (Grimm is easiest to justify as she was only ever temporary).

This is, by my count, Trump’s fifth major scandal as President, after Stormy Daniels’ hush money, collusion with Russia, obstruction of justice, and of course the Ukraine scandal which led to his impeachment. This does not count blunders, stupid things he has said or done as President, or scandals that pre-date his presidency but have not materially affected it such as the seventeen rape accusations or the Central Park Five.

This is probably unlikely to have a big impact upon Trump’s popularity as most Americans have a fixed view of him and it’s a relatively boring scandal compared to the big four, but it’s a timely reminder that Trump isn’t just an incompetent idiot, but an actively power-mad far-right authoritarian who fits in well with the global neo-fascist movement.

Should be a slam dunk for Democrats,

yet, they nominate an elderly man who gets confused when speaking.

What does Trump have to do with the Central Park 5?

There were allegations that he raped a 13-year-old girl.

I can't say I am surprised about Christi Grimm.

Biden May Still Live in the 1950's with everything 'Man' that comes with that;
But He Does NOT Have Dementia; Fumbling Words Occasionally Does not make That.
He's a Political Stiff; But He's Not "A Devil Incarnate" Or as close as that Humanly Trump Gets.
Trump Is A Lowest Tide of Leader In Human Character this Country has Ever Seen Lower Than Black Abyss.

Biden has a weird life long condition in which he falsely remembers himself a civil rights hero.