Schumer: Trump fires watchdogs ‘when he hears the truth’

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Thursday that President Trump fires government watchdogs “when he hears the truth.”

Schumer said on ABC’s “The View” that the president fires watchdogs “instead of listening to” them.

Trump fired State Department Inspector General Steve Linick last week, the fourth such ouster in recent months.

“Unfortunately … it seems to be what the president does when he hears the truth,” he said when asked about Linick’s firing. “Instead of listening to it and adapting to it, he fires people.”

When asked about Pres. Trump’s frequent firing of inspector generals, Sen. Chuck Schumer tells @TheView this is “something the President does when he hears the truth.” https://t.co/0WvAY2E3U3 pic.twitter.com/LkXIKigkl3

— ABC News (@ABC) May 21, 2020

“When the president doesn’t listen to the truth, we all get hurt,” he added. 

The president also removed intelligence community Inspector General Michael Atkinson and Defense Department Inspector General Glenn Fine last month and nominated a replacement for Principal Deputy Inspector General Christi Grimm this month.

Schumer called for a “full investigation” into the allegations against Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that Linick was looking into him before he was fired. 

“I don’t know of their truth but I certainly want an independent watchdog to investigate,” he said during his interview. 

Linick was reportedly investigating whether Pompeo was using a staffer to run personal errands for him and his wife, as well as a controversial arms deal with Saudi Arabia. Trump said earlier this week that he fired Linick at Pompeo’s request, and the secretary of State has denied he knew Linick was investigating him.