Grassley to hold up pair of nominations until Trump explains IG firings

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Axios

18 mins ago - Politics & Policy
Grassley to hold up pair of nominations until Trump explains IG firings

Orion Rummler

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said on Thursday that he will block the confirmation of two of President Trump's nominees until the White House provides "adequate explanations" for why the inspectors general for the intelligence community and State Department were ousted in the past two months.

Why it matters: It's a rare attempt by a Republican to hold Trump accountable for his recent purge of federal watchdogs. Grassley has long considered himself a defender of inspectors general.

In the past two months, Trump has moved to oust Intelligence Community IG Michael Atkinson, State Department IG Steve Linick, acting Pentagon IG Glenn Fine, and acting Health and Human Services IG Christi Grimm.

Linick was removed at the recommendation of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Trump told reporters that he has offered to fire any Obama-appointed inspector general.

{snip}

Read more: https://www.axios.com/chuck-grassley-trump-inspector-general-55eebb6b-c3ae-4c68-a988-8112d64a7d84.html

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Kevin M. Kruse Retweeted

https://twitter.com/KevinMKruse

Grassley is placing a hold on Trump nominees. He wants answers on Trump's firing of IGs without reason.

Link to tweet

[still_one]

1. Any bets how long it will take Grassley to back down?

[rurallib]

3. I will say, he often makes a fuss and never goes any farther

So this is a rare step. My guess is Grassley will quietly remove the holds next week or so.

Edit to add: I checked to see what kind of nominees Chuckie was holding - especially if they were judicial nominees. Was unable to find anything. My guess is they are probably somewhat innocuous nominees, but it is a small crack in the Republican wall.

Found something:

Grassley is placing a hold on Christopher Miller's nomination to be the director of the National Counterterrorism Center over the firing of intelligence community inspector general Michael Atkinson.

He is also placing a hold on Marshall Billingslea's nomination to be the undersecretary for arms control and international security at the State Department for the ousting of State Department inspector general Steven Linick.

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/501181-grassley-places-hold-on-two-trump-nominees-in-push-for-explanation-of

[still_one]

6. +++

[More_Cowbell]

7. So he's not holding up judges

That's about what I expected

[SharonClark]

8. The 'hold up' is just a distraction while he votes for the judges.

[rurallib]

10. Yep

Chuckles really knows how to play the press back home.
They will write about his independence and make him seem like a gawd for this 'forceful" acion.

[machoneman]

9. Well, it's like he said: All I want is a reason why. Here's some valid ones.

-he didn't genuflect before me.
-I don't like the way he parts his hair.
-he texted bad words about me.
-his graft payment to me (oophs!, donation!) was insufficient.
-he refused to fire all Obama era staffers reporting to him.

I could go on and on................

[MANative]

2. tRump will say...

"Cuz I felt like it. What are you gonna do about it, huh? I'll tweet nasty shit about you if I don't get my way." Then he'll stomp his feet.

Grassley will respond, "Oh, okay then."

And two more unqualified nominees will take their posts.

[Dios Mio]

4. Old balls are better than no balls.

[pecosbob]

5. Grassley complains about the flavor of Trump's balls.