Official Termination by Trump Concludes Legal Battle Following Court Decision
Hampton Dellinger claimed that his dismissal was unlawful.
On March 6, the ousted head of an executive branch agency announced he is concluding his legal struggle against the administration of President Donald Trump.
Hampton Dellinger, previously the head of the Office of Special Counsel (OSC), shared that he would cease the litigation he initiated regarding his termination after a federal appeals court backed Trump.
Although Dellinger believes the appeals court’s ruling was incorrect, he characterized his chances of winning the case in the long run as slim.
“I strongly disagree with the circuit court’s verdict, but I accept and will abide by it. That’s the American way,” he remarked.
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Dellinger was nominated as special counsel by President Joe Biden in 2023 and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate the following year.
Trump dismissed Dellinger on February 7, though no explanation was provided in the termination notice.
Dellinger initiated a lawsuit on February 10, citing a federal statute that stipulates that a special counsel may only be fired for “inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.”
Government attorneys contended that the president has the right to dismiss heads of executive branch agencies at will, without needing to provide a reason.
Government lawyers have appealed the judge’s ruling, referencing Dellinger’s complaints.
The circuit court stated in its brief order that the government met the standard for a stay pending appeal. The judges indicated they would provide a detailed opinion on their decision in the future.
As of the time of publication, the White House had not responded to requests for comments.
A representative for the OSC informed The Epoch Times via email that following the decision, the office is awaiting guidance on who will serve as the acting OSC.
“Meanwhile, we have established a leadership framework with Principal Deputy Special Counsel Karen Gorman acting as the senior career official in the office,” the spokesperson stated, “and our daily operations will continue under that structure.”
