Ousted State Department IG Steve Linick said he tried to interview Mike Pompeo about his role in an “emergency” arms sale to Saudi Arabia shortly before he was fired
The State Department watchdog fired by President Donald Trump last month told lawmakers on Wednesday that he sought to interview Secretary of State Mike Pompeo about his role in an “emergency” arms sale to Saudi Arabia shortly before he was fired.
In a readout of the private, virtual interview, two House committee chairs indicated that Steve Linick, the State Department inspector general, revealed he had approached two senior State officials about scheduling the interview for after the coronavirus crisis had abated. He never got a response before Trump removed him at Pompeo’s request, according to the readout provided by the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep.
Linick also confirmed to lawmakers that he was investigating Pompeo and his wife for “allegations of misuse of government resources.” Linick revealed that he had sought documents from Pompeo’s executive secretary, Lisa Kenna, and discussed the probe with Bulatao and another senior State Department official, Stephen Biegun, to ensure that Pompeo’s inner circle “would not be surprised.
Linick’s ouster came amid a series of moves by Trump to oust inspectors general he viewed as insufficiently loyal and had attacked for investigations that cast him or his administration in a bad light. Trump also ousted the intelligence community inspector general, Michael Atkinson, whom he blamed for igniting the House’s impeachment inquiry by revealing the existence of a whistleblower complaint against him.
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