Top aides of United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo went before a panel of Congress on Wednesday to defend President Donald Trump’s decision to fire former state inspector General Fire when he is investigating arms sales to Saudi Arabia And alleged that Pompio misused the department’s funds.
Trump abruptly removed Steve Linnick from the position as watchman of the State Department on May 15, as he investigated the administration’s decision to sell military aid to Saudi Arabia for billions of dollars, despite opposition from Congress.
Members of Congress expressed concern over the transaction, saying they would increase the huge human cost of war in Yemen, possibly leaving American officials vulnerable to war crimes charges.
“Did Mr. Pompeo set the fire [Linick] Because he was getting closer and closer to cases that were embarrassing to Mr. Pompeo and his family … cases that sidestepped Congress and the State Department in a plan to sell lethal weapons that could be used for war crimes. Implicate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Democratic Speaker of the House of Representatives.
US State Department Inspector General Steve Linnick departs after briefing house and Senate intelligence committees in Washington, US Capitol. [File: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters]
Linic’s firing was a series of dismissals of officials responsible for preventing fraud and misconduct on government agencies. Regarding whether members of Congress, including some of Trump’s fellow Republicans, Firangi expressed concern about whether Trump was interfering with legitimate oversight.
Michael McCall, the committee’s top Republican representative, said, “The news of Inspector General Linic’s firing came as a surprise … it would naturally raise some questions if it expired at any time.”
However, he said that the Inspector General (IG), like other executive branch officials, serves the President at his pleasure.
Linnick was also investigating allegations that Pompeo and his wife Susan misused government resources to handle personal matters to department employees.
‘Flaws and shortages’
Three officers: Brian Callao, Under Secretary of Management; Acting Legal Adviser Maric String and; Clark Cooper, Assistant Secretary for Political-Military Affairs – testified.
Bulato accused Linnick of “a variety of flaws and shortcomings”, including improper email practices and failure to complete a critical audit, which he said led to his firing.
Linnick, who worked as a state IG for seven years, has denied wrongdoing.
String agreed to testify after the colonies were announced only after calls and stingings, alleviating tensions between Congress and the administration over Linnick’s firing.
Brian Bulatao, Under Secretary of State for Management, told the committee that Linic failed to complete a critical audit [Kevin Dietsch/Pool via Reuters]
Congress requested an inquiry into the Trump administration’s decision to move $ 8bn in military sales to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan in May 2019 to declare a “national emergency” in relation to tensions with Iran Go so that congressional objections to the sale can be stopped. .
Legislators Raytheon had been blocking several sales for months over concerns of smart bombs and other equipment could contribute to human catastrophe in Yemen, where bombing by a Saudi-led coalition has led to heavy civilian casualties.
A report released by the State IG’s office in August found that the State Department did not fully assess the risk to citizens in Yemen when it pushed through heavy precision-guided munition sales, although it did not violate the law did.
In his opening statement, Cooper said that Iran’s actions since the decision to pursue arms sales justify the national emergency declaration.
He also said that both Saudi Arabia and the UAE are committed to reducing civilian casualties in their air operations in Yemen.
Source:
Reuters news agency
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