Chuck Grassley Wants Answers From Trump After Friday Night Inspectors General Purge: 'I'd Like Further Explanation'
Source: MEDIAite
Jan 25th, 2025, 7:51 pm
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) demanded an answer Saturday after President Donald Trump fired more than a dozen inspectors general a night earlier without informing Congress. On Friday evening, the Trump administration axed approximately 17 inspectors from the State, Defense, Transportation, and other departments. Each department has an inspector general whose job is to root out corruption, abuse of power, and fraud. The Washington Post described the mass firings as a “purge.”
Democrats on Capitol Hill, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), quickly condemned Trump over the firings. Schumer said the mass terminations were done in the “dark of night” and portrayed them as a “chilling” sign of things to come over the next four years.
The criticism from lawmakers became bipartisan on Saturday when a number of Republicans weighed in. Grassley, a Trump ally, said Congress was not offered advanced warning about the firings as is required by law. He demanded answers from Trump specifically.
“There may be good reason the IGs were fired,” Grassley said Saturday in a statement obtained by CNN. “We need to know that if so. I’d like further explanation from President Trump. Regardless, the 30 day detailed notice of removal that the law demands was not provided to Congress.”
Read more: https://www.mediaite.com/tv/chuck-grassley-wants-answers-from-trump-after-friday-night-inspectors-general-purge-id-like-further-explanation/
I posted in another thread about the 91 year old (since the media refuses to include his age like they do everyone else who is 70+) Grassley, i.e., "Inspector Generals" are one of his pet projects (probably because he likes to have whistle-blowers against Democrats) -
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-joins-senate-inspector-general-caucus
Grassley Joins Senate Inspector General Caucus
WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today joined Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) in launching the bipartisan Inspector General (IG) Caucus. The IG Caucus will support federal watchdogs in their efforts to ensure government accountability and compliance with the law.
“Inspectors General play an essential role in protecting taxpayer dollars and rooting out waste, fraud and abuse in the executive branch,” Grassley said. “I rely heavily on these independent watchdogs when carrying out my constitutional responsibility of oversight, and I’m glad to join Senator Ernst’s effort to support their invaluable work.”
“Inspectors General serve a vital role in uncovering waste in Washington and must be empowered to continue looking out for taxpayers,” Ernst said. “From identifying billion-dollar boondoggles to exposing a federal workforce that is permanently out of office, their work has been invaluable in my decade-long mission to uncover waste and make Washington squeal. I look forward to this caucus continuing to allow IGs to do tremendous work and find more ways to downsize government and eliminate inefficiencies.”
Background:
Congress in 1978 established Offices of Inspectors General at various federal agencies to serve as “independent and objective units” within the federal government. IGs are responsible for: conducting audits and investigations; promoting efficiency; deterring fraud and abuse; and fully informing agency heads and Congress about interagency problems.
Last Congress, Grassley introduced bipartisan legislation to safeguard Offices of Inspectors General from partisan political activity and demanded they continue fortifying protections for whistleblowers. Grassley also played a key role in the 2016 passage of the Inspector General Empowerment Act, which included his language to ensure IGs receive timely access to all records necessary for conducting oversight.
So this is his wheelhouse and if wants to make a mockery out of the whole system he embraces by ignoring the illegality of what just happened and eventually wholesale supporting his dear leader's antics, then that is on him.
= new reply since forum marked as read
It sure sounds like a high crime and misdemeanor to me.
Oh, wait! I can just see the very tippy top of a ship’s sail as it cruises over the horizon.
... kinda late for Chuck Grassley to switch careers and become a comedian. BUT I welcome the news! Now, resign quickly, Chuck.
... PS... now, can we call you Chuckles Grassley?
