This archive report was first published on 16 May 2020.
On Friday, May 15, 2020, US President Donald Trump fired the State Department's Inspector General, Steve Linick, without giving a reason for his departure.
According to a Democratic lawmaker, Linick was investigating Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, which led to accusations that Trump committed a potentially illegal act of retribution.
Linick, a longtime prosecutor, was appointed in 2013 by former President Barack Obama to oversee the $70 billion US diplomacy efforts.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi condemned the move, stating that Linick was 'punished for honorably performing his duty to protect the Constitution and our national security.'
Trump has appointed Stephen Akard, a former aide to Vice President Mike Pence, as the new Inspector General.
A Democratic congressional aide alleged that Linick was probing complaints that Pompeo misused a political appointee to perform personal tasks for himself and his wife, Susan Pompeo.
Trump's decision has raised eyebrows, particularly given Pompeo's frequent travel with his wife on the government plane, despite her having no official role.
