GOP senator blocks Trump nominations until admin explains why it fired watchdogs

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, on Thursday said he would block two Trump administration nominations until the White House explained why it fired two federal watchdogs. Grassley had previously sent letters to President Donald Trump asking for explanations after the firings of Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson and State Department Inspector General Steve Linick. The White House counsel responded to Grassley’s letter in late May about Linick’s ouster, but it “failed to address” the requirement that there be a “good reason” for such a termination, Grassley said at the time.
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/04/gop-senator-blocks-trump-nominations-until-admin-explains-why-it-fired-watchdogs.html

The Mike Pompeo Scandals Just Keep Piling Up | Vanity Fair

The secretary of state reportedly used official trips to secretly visit with Republican donors—which is far from the only damning accusation to come out against Pompeo in recent days. https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/05/mike-pompeo-scandals-visited-donors-on-official-state-trips

Mike Pompeo's disturbing actions (Opinion) - CNN

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has surged into the headlines atop a geyser of revelations so dramatic that they may even help President Donald Trump distract the public from his disastrous pandemic response.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/20/opinions/mike-pompeos-disturbing-actions-ghitis/index.html

Trump’s purge just got much more corrupt. Here’s what’s coming next - The Washington Post

There's a potentially terrible backstory to Trump's firing of another inspector general....
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/05/18/trumps-purge-just-got-much-more-corrupt-heres-whats-coming-next/

Democrats Accuse Trump Of 'Gutting' Government Watchdog Roles : NPR

Congressional Democrats announced Saturday they're requesting all records and documents regarding President Trump's decision to fire State Department Inspector General Steve Linick, the fourth government watchdog Trump has fired or sought to remove in the last six weeks. https://www.npr.org/2020/05/17/857589529/democrats-launch-probe-of-trumps-firing-of-state-department-inspector-general

Steve Linick: State Department official investigating Pompeo is fired

Latest move against independent executive branch watchdogs who have found fault with Trump administration
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/may/16/steve-linick-state-department-official-investigating-pompeo-is-fired

The ‘propaganda’ provided by the State Department IG isn’t a distraction. It’s the key - Daily Kos

On Wednesday, State Department Inspector General Steve Linick called staffers from three House committees to return to Washington and attend an urgent briefing. As the call came in the midst of an impeachment proceeding, and following multiple explanations that "urgent" as defined by the intelligence community means something directly affecting national security, expectations were running high.
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/10/3/1889829/-The-propaganda-provided-by-the-State-Department-IG-isn-t-a-distraction-it-s-the-key