Senator-Democrat Adam Schiff, one of the most vocal critics of President Donald Trump, stated that Trump's dismissal of 12 independent general inspectors working in important federal agencies, including the ministries of defense, foreign affairs, transportation, veterans' affairs, housing and urban development, internal affairs, and energy, is considered a "clear violation of the Constitution".
Schiff noted that Trump violated the law, designed to fight against corruption and fraud, and the abuse of power. "Yes, he violated the law," Schiff said in an interview with NBC, adding that such actions are aimed at preparing the ground for undermining their positions as external critics of the president, which represents a violation of the federal Constitution, requiring the president to present to Congress the reasons for this dismissal. Among those who expressed support for this opinion was the head of the Council of General Inspectors, G. Hannibal Wehr.
"We do not believe that the measures taken are legally sufficient for the dismissal of general inspectors appointed by the president and confirmed by Congress," Wehr wrote in a letter to the White House.
Schiff also emphasized that Trump previously fired the general inspector of the U.S. intelligence community and continued to exert political pressure in the operational work with the objects of 'COVID-19'. Furthermore, Trump continued a series of dismissals, which, according to Schiff, suggests that Trump is trying to rid himself of those who draw public attention to his questionable actions.
Schiff stated that he was not surprised by the fact that one of Trump's supporters - Senator Lindsey Graham - ignores the stated violations of the law, saying that "practically yes, Trump violated the law," but that it does not have greater significance.
Schiff held a position in the House of Representatives until his victory in the elections in November for the Senate seat that was previously held by his colleague - Democrat Dianne Feinstein. Schiff was a member of the committee examining the foreign intervention in Trump's Capitol breach in early 2021 in an unsuccessful attempt to keep him in power after his defeat in the elections to former President Joe Biden.
Trump presented a rally of about 1500 people, accusing them of the Capitol breach. Schiff chaired one of the proceedings of impeachment against Trump in his first term in the White House and recently rejected Trump's proposal to fly with him to the area of Los Angeles, affected by the deadly forest fires.
Biden presented to Senator Schiff, his colleague from the party, the rally directed to protect the senator from the seat. At the beginning of the second term of Trump's presidency, Schiff stated that unnecessary for him rally, issued by Biden, was "nonbinding," since all he intended to do was "to protect the law." Moreover, Schiff expressed surprise at the rally Trump held against Congress, considering that it sends a "bad message that if you use violence to keep Trump in power, he will support you."
