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If true, this is a break glass moment for our democracy. And I'm not an alarmist, nor the biggest fan of all IGs. But they play an essential role in checking abuse & preventing autocracy. If there are more @MittRomney's in Congress, now is the time to speak out. STRING 1/ https://twitter.com/susancrabtree/status/1247657858033844224
This is coming off Trump’s firing of Glenn Fine, acting DOD IG & newly-appointed chair of the Pandemic Accountability Committee, overseeing the new stimulus funds. He joins a long list of public servants fired by Trump for prioritizing the public interest over the president’s. 2/
IGs are meant to operate independently from political leadership. By law they’re: appointed w/out regard to political affiliation; conduct investigations & audits w/out prior approval; submit reports directly to Congress & can't be removed w/out 30-days' notice to Congress. 3/
It’s why IGs hold over from admin to admin & presidents face incredible scrutiny when removing them. From Reagan’s attempt to remove IGs who served under Carter (most stayed after pushback), to George W’s removal of the NASA & CNCS IGs, to Obama's removal of another CNCS IG. 4/
Trump’s actions ignore & undermine this independence. He admitted to firing Atkinson for doing his job (referring a complaint he deemed credible & that raised an urgent concern to Congress) & removed Fine to further undercut Congress’ oversight mechanisms in the stimulus bill. 5/
Some congressional leaders are pushing back. @RepAdamSchiff announced that the House Intelligence Committee will investigate Atkinson’s firing. 6/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/04/07/trumps-purge-is-about-get-much-worse-schiff-just-sent-up-flare/
@SpeakerPelosi is establishing a Select Committee to reinforce the oversight mechanisms Trump is trying to do away with in the stimulus bill. 7/ https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/02/pelosi-forms-new-select-committee-to-oversee-2-trillion-coronavirus-relief-package-161436
Michael Horowitz, the DOJ IG & Chair of CIGIE (the govt wide IG council) should double down on his commitment to conducting rigorous oversight of this admin & appoint an equally rigorous & well-respected IG to replace Fine as Pandemic Accountability chair. He has options. 8/
But there’s more that can be done. Trump has turned the personnel process on its head. From seeking competent, accountable officials for key positions, to exacting revenge, rooting out dissenters, & promoting loyalists, while stripping Congress of their advice & consent role. 9/
. @BrennanCenter’s Rule of Law Task Force has ideas backed by a bipartisan group of experts, including @PreetBharara & @GovCTW. & past proposals to require “for-cause” removal or fixed terms for IGs have gained bipartisan support in Congress. 10/ https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/policy-solutions/proposals-reform-volume-ii-national-task-force-rule-law-democracy
Discussions about personnel are no longer academic. Indeed, as I said in my @PostOpinions piece this morning, a dysfunctional personnel process is hampering our response to covid-19 and putting more lives at risk. END https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/04/07/covid-19-white-house-personnel-fauci-birx-atkinson/
