A former federal watchdog expressed concern on Tuesday over President Donald Trump’s recent decision to remove the inspector general from the federal Import-Export Bank (IEB), calling the move “disconcerting.”
The New York Times reported that IEB Inspector General Parisa Salehi was dismissed from her position last week, citing two sources familiar with the matter. According to the report, the Trump administration told Salehi that her dismissal was due to “changing priorities.”
Mark Greenblatt, the former inspector general for the Interior Department who was fired by Trump in January, spoke to the Times about Salehi’s termination. He described it as “disconcerting,” emphasizing her reputation within the inspector general and oversight community.
“Parisa Salehi is very well respected in the inspector general and oversight community. She is exactly what the American people should want, conducting fair, objective, independent oversight,” Greenblatt said.
He added, “The fact that her firing is coming right on the heels of the confirmation of a new head of the bank is disconcerting because it suggests that they want to bring in a lap dog into this position. The timing certainly sends up a red flag, in my view.”
The move also appeared to spark some backlash from Republicans in Congress. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) took to social media to express his concerns.
“President Trump takes an oath to uphold the Constitution and the laws, but he hasn’t told Congress he was firing the Ex-Im Inspector General,” Grassley wrote, according to the Times. “The law says POTUS has to specifically inform Congress about IG firings and unless the courts say otherwise, that’s still the law.”
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-2674220527/