Trump’s firing of watchdog agency chief illegal and would give ‘license to bully officials’, judge rules

Case is seen as early test of scope of presidential authority as Trump seeks to rein in federal agencies’ independence

A US judge on Saturday declared president Donald Trump’s firing of the head of a federal watchdog agency illegal in an early test of the scope of presidential power likely to be decided at the US supreme court.

US district judge Amy Berman Jackson in Washington had previously ruled that Hampton Dellinger, head of the Office of Special Counsel who is responsible for protecting whistleblowers, could remain in his post pending a ruling.

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Judge Rules Trump Can’t Fire Head of Federal Watchdog Agency Without Cause

A federal judge said that the president’s efforts to remove Hampton Dellinger, who leads the Office of Special Counsel, were unlawful. The agency protects whistle-blowers.
The New York Times - 21h
Trump's effort to fire government watchdog 'unlawful', judge rules

President Donald Trump's effort to remove the head of a federal watchdog agency was "unlawful," a federal judge in Washington, D.C., said Saturday.
NBC News - 22h
Judge rules that Trump's firing of whistleblower office chief was unlawful

Hampton Dellinger, who leads the Office of Special Counsel, sued President Trump last month after he was fired.
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CBS News - 2d
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The New York Times - 2d
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