On February 10, Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger sued President Donald Trump in response to his sudden termination late on February 7. Under federal law, the Special Counsel can be removed by the President “only for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.”
Dellinger alleges that his firing was illegal. He claims that his performance as Special Counsel could not meet that standard for dismissal. In the notice of termination sent to Dellinger via email by Sergio Gor, director of the Presidential Personnel Office in the White House, there was no reference to any allegations of inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.
As Special Counsel, Dellinger oversaw the Office of Special Counsel (OSC), an independent agency that protects federal employees from prohibited personnel practices, including whistleblower retaliation. The watchdog agency also investigates whistleblower disclosures about wrongdoing in federal agencies.
“The decision to terminate the Special Counsel is irresponsible and dangerous,” says whistleblower attorney Stephen M. Kohn, Chairman of the Board of National Whistleblower Center. “The Office of Special Counsel is charged with investigating allegations of corruption, fraud, waste, and abuse from federal employees. An attack on this office is an unjustifiable attack on federal employee whistleblowers and the ability of employees to report waste, fraud and abuse.”
“This action undermines a critical government program that has saved taxpayers billions of dollars and is designed to encourage reporting of waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars,” Kohn continues. “Additionally, the Office of Special Counsel maintains confidential lists of hundreds or thousands of federal employees who have blown the whistle on serious fraud, waste, and abuse. All of whom are now in immediate danger of being exposed.”
National Whistleblower Center has launched an emergency campaign in response to the
wrongful termination of Special Counsel Dellinger. They are urging supporters to join them and to contact their Representatives and Senators immediately and express their concern on the issue.
