WASHINGTON – The State Department on Wednesday rejected Democrats' charges of improperly firing its independent inspector general and defended its weapons sales to Saudi Arabia.Democrats say the two are connected because Steve Linick, the former IG, told lawmakers in June that at the time of his firing, his office had been probing Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's emergency declaration that sped up the $8 billion in arms sales.
Democrats and some Republicans complained that the move improperly bypassed Congress and that Linick's firing was part of a “cover up.” Three of the department's top officials testified Wednesday during a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing that Pompeo had asked President Donald Trump to fire Linick for a variety.