Tinanggal sa puwesto ni US President Donald Trump ang inspector general ng US State Department na si Steve Linick.
Ayon kay Trump, wala na raw itong kumpiyansa kay Linick at sibak na raw ito sa kanyang tungkulin matapos ang 30 araw.
“It is vital that I have the fullest confidence in the appointees serving as Inspectors General. That is no longer the case with regard to this Inspector General,” saad sa liham ni Trump kay House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Bago ianunsyo ang pagkakatanggal kay Linick, sinabi ng chairman ng House Foreign Affairs Committee na si Rep. Elliot Engel na sinimulan daw ng state department official na imbestigahan si Secretary of State Mike Pompeo dahil sa umano’y pag-abuso nito sa kapangyarihan.
Kaugnay nito, binuweltahan ng mga Democrats ang nasabing hakbang na tinawag nilang “paghihiganti” ni Trump sa mga opisyal na nais siyasatin ang kanyang administrasyon.
“This firing is the outrageous act of a president trying to protect one of his most loyal supporters, the secretary of state, from accountability,” wika ni Engel.
“I have learned that the Office of the Inspector General had opened an investigation into Secretary Pompeo. Mr Linick’s firing amid such a probe strongly suggests that this is an unlawful act of retaliation,” dagdag nito.
Noong nakaraang buwan nang sibakin din ni Trump si Michael Atkinson, ang inspector general ng intelligence community. (BBC/ CNN)
