President Donald Trump mentioned claims {that a} fired inspector basic was investigating Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for allegedly making a taxpayer-funded staffer run private errands for him are overblown — and even when they have been true, they might nonetheless be acceptable.
“Here’s a man that is supposed to be negotiating war and peace with major, major countries with weaponry like the world has never seen before,” Trump instructed reporters on the White House. “And the Democrats and the faux information media, they’re concerned about a person who’s strolling their canine.
“Maybe he’s busy. Maybe he’s negotiating with Kim Jong Un, OK, about nuclear weapons.”
Trump fired the State Department’s inspector basic, Steve Linick, on Friday and changed him with an ally of Vice President Mike Pence.
According to NBC News, Linick had been probing whether or not Pompeo and his spouse made the staffer stroll their canine, decide up their dry cleansing, and make them dinner reservations. He was additionally mentioned to be investigating the circumstances of Pompeo’s promoting US weapons to Saudi Arabia regardless of a congressional ban.
Trump claimed Friday that he didn’t know something about Linick however mentioned that Pompeo had requested him to fireside the inspector basic. “I was happy to do it,” mentioned Trump. “Mike requested that I do it. He should have done it a long time ago, in my opinion. [Linick] is an Obama appointment and had some difficulty.”
He additionally mentioned that criticism that Pompeo would possibly use a taxpayer-funded staffer to carry out his private chores was “stupid.”
“He’s a very brilliant guy. And now I have you telling me about dog walking, washing dishes — and you know what? I would rather have him on the phone with some world leader than have him wash dishes — because maybe his wife isn’t there or his kids aren’t,” mentioned Trump. “What are you telling me? It’s terrible. It is so stupid. You know how stupid that sounds to the world? Unbelievable.”
Democrats have mentioned they’ll examine the circumstances of Linick’s dismissal.
Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley additionally wrote to Trump on Monday, asking for “a detailed reasoning” as to why Linick was eliminated.
“Expression of lost confidence, without further explanation, is not sufficient to fulfill the requirements of the IG Reform Act,” he cautioned.
“Inspectors General help ensure transparency and accountability,” mentioned Grassley, “both of which are critical for taxpayers to have confidence in their government.”
