ECNETNews – WASHINGTON – An appeals court has made a significant ruling by allowing the removal of the head of a key federal watchdog agency amid an ongoing legal dispute regarding former President Donald Trump’s authority to dismiss special counsels.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia has sided with the Trump administration in the immediate dismissal of Hampton Dellinger from his position as head of the Office of Special Counsel while legal proceedings are ongoing. Dellinger is anticipated to pursue an appeal against this decision.
Earlier, a federal judge in Washington had ruled that Dellinger would remain in his position, deeming Trump’s attempt to terminate him as unlawful.
Dellinger initiated legal action against Trump last month following his dismissal, citing the law that stipulates special counsels can only be removed by the president for reasons such as inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.
U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, had promptly reinstated Dellinger while he sought to challenge his termination.
