Federal Judge Rules Trump's Firing of Special Counsel Head Unlawful, Keeping Him in Post

Federal Judge Rules Trump's Firing of Special Counsel Head Unlawful

A federal judge in Washington D.C. ruled late Saturday evening that President Donald Trump's firing of Hampton Dellinger, the head of the Office of Special Counsel, was unlawful. Dellinger, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden, sued the Trump administration after his February 7th dismissal.

Judge Amy Berman Jackson wrote in her ruling that the court's decision is consistent with Supreme Court precedent, which emphasizes the importance of the Office of Special Counsel's independence. She further stated that eliminating restrictions on Dellinger's removal would undermine the agency's essential function of protecting whistleblowers.

Jackson's order prohibits the defendants, including Director of the Office of Management and Budget Russ Vought and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, from interfering with Dellinger's performance of his duties. They are also barred from recognizing any Acting Special Counsel in his place or treating him as if he has been removed.

This decision follows the U.S. Supreme Court's earlier pause on the Trump administration's efforts to dismiss Dellinger. The dispute over his firing marked the first Trump legal challenge to reach the Supreme Court in his second term.

Justices Neil Gorsuch and Samuel Alito dissented, arguing that the lower court overstepped its authority and questioning whether courts have the power to reinstate someone the president has fired. However, Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson voted to outright deny the administration's request to approve the firing.

Following the Supreme Court's intervention, Judge Jackson hinted at the possibility of extending a temporary restraining order keeping Dellinger in his job. She acknowledged the complexity of the constitutional issue involved.

Dellinger expressed his gratitude for the court's decision, stating that he is glad to continue his work as an independent government watchdog and whistleblower advocate. He maintains that he can only be dismissed for job performance problems, which were not cited in his dismissal email.