Congressional Democrats Release Former Inspector General Linick Deposition Transcript
Published by The Lawfare Institute
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Democratic members of Congress today released the transcript of an interview conducted last week with former State Department Inspector General Steve Linick, who was abruptly fired last month.
Linick’s removal occurred as his office was conducting inquiries that related directly to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s conduct, including the possible misuse of State Department resources by Pompeo and his wife, and one concerning the 2019 emergency declaration used to move forward with $8 billion in arms sales to Saudi Arabia.
Secretary Pompeo has previously claimed that he did not know Linick’s office was investigating allegations that he had a State Department aide run personal errands for him. However, in the deposition released by House members today, Linick states he informed Brian Bulatao—one of Pompeo’s top deputies—about the investigation. Reps. Eliot Engel, Carolyn Maloney, Gerald Connolly, Joaquin Castro and Sen. Bob Menendez, who together released the transcript, stated that Linick interview raised questions about “whether the President fired him to cover up Secretary Pompeo’s misconduct.”
You can read the deposition transcript here and below:
