Democrats launch investigation into Mike Pompeo's firing of State Department inspector general

“President Trump’s unprecedented removal of Inspector General Linick is only his latest sacking of an inspector general, our government’s key independent watchdogs, from a federal agency," the two lawmakers said on Saturday in a series of letters demanding documents related to Linick's firing."Reports indicate that Secretary Pompeo personally made the recommendation to fire Mr. Linick," Engel and Menendez said, "and it is our understanding that he did so because the Inspector General had opened an investigation into wrongdoing by Secretary Pompeo himself."A senior State Department official said Pompeo’s move to fire the agency’s top watchdog “blindsided everybody” and smacks of “political retaliation.”Pompeo:State Department watchdog critical of Trump moves firedThe person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, confirmed the Inspector General, Steve Linick, was investigating Pompeo’s use of State Department staff to run personal errands for himself and his wife.“If Secretary Pompeo is involved in firing his IG – who is heading up that investigation – then that is definitely retaliatory,” the person said. On Friday, the State Department said an ally of Vice President Mike Pence would take over Linick's role at the helm of the IG's office.The White House is required to give Congress 30 days notice before removing an IG, which President Donald Trump did Friday night in a letter sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., at about 8:30 p.m.