Steve Linick
{{Short description|American attorney and politician (born 1963)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Steve Linick
| image = Steve Linick 2013.jpg
| office = 16th Inspector General of the Department of State
| president = Barack Obama
Donald Trump
| term_start = September 30, 2013
| term_end = June 14, 2020
On leave: May 15, 2020 – June 14, 2020
| predecessor = Howard Krongard
| successor = Cardell K. Richardson
| office1 = Inspector General of the Federal Housing Finance Agency
| president1 = Barack Obama
| term_start1 = September 29, 2010
| term_end1 = September 30, 2013
| predecessor1 = Position established
| successor1 = Michael Stephens (acting)
| birth_name = Steven Alan Linick
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1963}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| education = Georgetown University (BA, MA, JD)
}}
Steven Alan Linick ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|ɪ|n|ɪ|k}} {{Respell|LIN|ik}};{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmYsFKcK8e8 |title=IG Act 40: Steve A. Linick, Inspector General, Department Of State|access-date=May 24, 2020|publisher=Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency|via=YouTube|date=July 10, 2018}} born 1963){{Cite web |title=Steve A. Linick |website=Office of the Historian - Department History - People |url=https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/linick-steve-a |publisher=United States Department of State|access-date=2020-05-24}} is an American attorney and State Department official who served as Inspector General of the Department of State and led the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of State.{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/02/politics/steve-linick-state-department-inspector-general/index.html |title=Who is the State Department inspector general briefing Congress today? |first1=Jennifer |last1=Hansler |first2=Devan |last2=Cole |date=October 2, 2019 |publisher=CNN|access-date=October 3, 2019}} In 2013, he was nominated by President Barack Obama and was confirmed by the United States Senate.{{Cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/113th-congress/636 |title=PN636 - Nomination of Steve A. Linick for Department of State |website=113th Congress (2013-2014) |date=September 17, 2013 |publisher=United States Congress |access-date=December 10, 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2013/06/27/president-obama-announces-more-key-administration-posts|title=President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts|date=June 27, 2013|website=Press Office|publisher=Obama White House Archives |language=en|access-date=December 10, 2018}} Linick was removed from office by Donald Trump on May 15, 2020, effective in 30 days per federal law, with Stephen Akard appointed acting inspector general in the interim.{{cite tweet |user=mkraju |number=1261483732952891393 |title=Trump has fired the State Department inspector general in his latest effort targeting key watchdogs across the government. According to this letter he sent to Pelosi, Trump says he "no longer" has the "fullest confidence" in the State inspector general. Effective in 30 days. |last=Raju |first=Manu |author-link=Manu Raju |date=May 15, 2020}}{{Cite news|last=Borger|first=Julian|date=2020-05-16|title=Steve Linick: State Department official investigating Pompeo is fired|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/may/16/steve-linick-state-department-official-investigating-pompeo-is-fired|access-date=2020-05-16|issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web|title=Trump fires State Department inspector general said to be probing Pompeo|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3084697/trump-fires-us-state-department-inspector-general|date=2020-05-16|publisher=Agence France-Presse/Reuters|via=South China Morning Post|language=en|access-date=2020-05-16}}
Early life
Linick earned his Bachelor of Arts (1985) and Master of Arts (1990) in Philosophy, and a Juris Doctor (1990) from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.{{cite web |url=https://www.stateoig.gov/about/IG |title=Steve A. Linick, Inspector General |website=Office of Inspector General |publisher=United States Department of State |accessdate=November 17, 2018 |date=December 3, 2014 |archive-date=May 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516023946/https://www.stateoig.gov/about/IG |url-status=dead }}
Career
Early in his career, Linick served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office and as an associate at the Newman & Holtzinger law firm in Washington, D.C.{{cite news|url=https://www.weeklystandard.com/daniel-halper/state-dept-finally-fills-vacant-position-after-cruz-pledged-to-block-nominees|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118081550/https://www.weeklystandard.com/daniel-halper/state-dept-finally-fills-vacant-position-after-cruz-pledged-to-block-nominees|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 18, 2018|title=State Dept. Finally Fills Vacant Position After Cruz Pledged to Block Nominees|date=June 29, 2013|website=Weekly Standard|accessdate=November 17, 2018}}
Linick served as an Assistant United States Attorney in California from 1994 to 1999 and Virginia from 1999 to 2006. He also served as Executive Director of the Department of Justice’s National Procurement Fraud Task Force and Deputy Chief of its Fraud Section in the Criminal Division from 2006 to 2010. During his tenure at the Department of Justice, he supervised and participated in white-collar criminal fraud cases involving corruption and contract fraud against the U.S. in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In 2010, Linick was appointed Inspector General (IG) of the Federal Housing Finance Agency.{{cite news |last1=Solomon |first1=John |last2=Vorman |first2=Julie |title=Obama's Millions for Fannie, Freddie Execs, But Who's Counting? |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/obamas-millions-for-fannie-freddie-execs-but-whos-counting |access-date=25 January 2022 |work=The Daily Beast |date=26 May 2011}} In that capacity, he led audits and investigations to curb inefficiency and abuses within FHFA, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac.{{cite news |last1=Hudson |first1=Josh |title=Meet the Obama Appointees Who Could Sink Hillary |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2015/08/12/meet-the-obama-appointees-who-could-sink-hillary/ |access-date=15 December 2021 |work=Foreign Policy |date=12 August 2015}} In March 2011, Linick published a report criticizing FHFA for authorizing tax-payer funded salaries of $35.4 million to the top six executives at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.{{cite news |last1=Morgenson |first1=Gretchen |title=Report Criticizes High Pay at Fannie and Freddie |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/01/business/01pay.html |access-date=12 February 2022 |work=New York Times |date=31 March 2011}} In October 2011, Linick published the results of an investigation into Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac which found that the regulator for the two companies had failed to create adequate risk controls to help prevent foreclosure abuses.{{cite news |title=Regulator could have stopped foreclosure abuses: report |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-housing-regulator/regulator-could-have-stopped-foreclosure-abuses-report-idUKTRE79309L20111004 |access-date=14 December 2021 |work=Reuters |date=3 October 2011}}
=State Department Inspector General=
In 2013, Linick left FHFA to begin his appointment as Inspector General of the Department of State on September 30, 2013.{{cite web |title=Steve A. Linick |url=https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/linick-steve-a |website=Office of the Historian, U.S. Department of State |access-date=10 January 2022}} As IG, his primary function was to audit and investigate possible instances of corruption, abuse, or mismanagement within the State Department.{{cite news |last1=Kirby |first1=Jen |title=Inspectors general, explained by a former inspector general |url=https://www.vox.com/2020/5/20/21262678/steve-linick-inspector-general-fired-state-department-explainer |access-date=10 January 2022 |work=Vox |date=20 May 2020}}
Early in his tenure, Linick conducted inspections which turned up numerous security deficiencies in five newly-opened overseas State Department facilities, all of which were in locations which were considered to have a high risk of terrorism or sociopolitical unrest; the report became public in 2014.{{cite news |last1=Grimaldi |first1=James V. |last2=Nicholas |first2=Peter |title=Security Gaps Detailed at American Posts |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/security-gaps-detailed-at-american-posts-1418170166 |access-date=10 January 2022 |work=Wall Street Journal |date=9 December 2014}}
In an August 2015 article in Foreign Policy, writer John Hudson said Linick “surprised observers inside and outside Foggy Bottom with his willingness to publicly criticize the State Department” over matters such as security lapses in overseas compounds exposed by the 2012 Benghazi attack as well as the mishandling of billions in reconstruction funding in Afghanistan and Iraq.
In April 2015, Linick started a review of the “use of personal communications hardware and software by five recent Secretaries of State and their immediate staffs.”{{cite news |last1=Dade |first1=Rachel |last2=Gerstein |first2=Josh |title=Who's Who in Clinton email saga |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2015/08/whos-who-in-hillary-clintons-email-saga-213150 |access-date=14 December 2021 |work=Politico |date=31 August 2015}} Secretary of State John Kerry requested Linick also examine how the State Department meets its "preservation and transparency obligations”. As part of the review, Linick examined Hillary Clinton's use of private email services for correspondence during her tenure as Secretary of State.{{cite news |last1=Myers |first1=Steven Lee |last2=Lichtblau |first2=Eric |title=Hillary Clinton Is Criticized for Private Emails in State Dept. Review |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/26/us/politics/state-department-hillary-clinton-emails.html |access-date=10 January 2022 |work=New York Times |date=25 May 2016}} In his May 2016 report about these practices across various administrations, Linick found Clinton had failed to comply with State Department policies concerning preserving federal records (including emails) and had never sought permission to use a private email system while Secretary of State;{{cite news |last1=Prokop |first1=Andrew |title=What the new inspector general report on Hillary Clinton's emails actually says |url=https://www.vox.com/2016/5/25/11771850/hillary-clinton-emails-inspector-general-report |access-date=10 January 2022 |date=25 May 2016}} Linick also criticized former Secretary of State Colin Powell for failing to appropriately keep records by using private email, but noted that the rules surrounding emails were not as strict during his tenure.
In the spring of 2019, the White House gave Mike Pompeo a group of documents related to the impeachment investigation of Trump. The documents, which at a later date Rudy Giuliani said originated with him, were passed to Linick, who sent them to the FBI. After he obtained FBI clearance, Linick forwarded them in October 2019 to Congress during the impeachment investigation of President Trump over the Trump–Ukraine scandal.{{cite news |last1=Herb |first1=Jeremy |last2=Fox |first2=Lauren |last3=Raju |first3=Manu |last4=Hansler |first4=Jennifer |title=State Department inspector general gives Congress documents that Giuliani provided |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/02/politics/state-department-inspector-general-briefing-congress/index.html |access-date=14 December 2021 |work=CNN |date=2 October 2019}} Linick’s action put him at odds with State Department leadership, which had decided not to cooperate with Congressional impeachment investigations.{{cite news |last1=Cohen |first1=Zachary |last2=Raju |first2=Manu |last3=Hansler |first3=Jennifer |title=State Department inspector general becomes the latest watchdog fired by Trump |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/15/politics/state-department-inspector-general-fired/index.html |access-date=14 December 2021 |work=CNN |date=16 May 2020}}
Beginning in 2018, Linick oversaw a State Department investigation concerning discrimination or retaliation against civil servants within the State Department by Trump administration political appointees. The findings of this investigation were detailed in a report, released in November 2019, which found that Trump appointees violated State Department policies directing placement of career State Department staff members on a meritocratic basis and instead engaged in harassment of certain staffers because of their ethnic background or political affiliation.{{cite news |last1=Toosi |first1=Nahal |title=Trump aides retaliated against State staffer of Iranian descent, probe finds |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2019/11/13/trump-aides-state-department-staffers-070419 |access-date=14 December 2021 |work=Politico |date=13 November 2019}}
=Firing=
{{See also|2020 dismissal of inspectors general}}
On May 15, 2020, Linick was informed by Brian Bulatao and Stephen Biegun, two of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s high-ranking aides, that President Trump had decided to remove him from his post; Linick was then immediately placed on administrative leave.{{cite news |last1=Cheney |first1=Kyle |title=Ex-State watchdog says he was fired after trying to interview Pompeo |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/06/03/state-department-linick-300064 |access-date=7 January 2022 |work=Politico |date=3 June 2020}} His dismissal was officially announced in a letter sent by Trump to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi late that same night.{{cite news |last1=Cohen |first1=Zachary |last2=Raju |first2=Manu |last3=Hansler |first3=Jennifer |title=State Department inspector general becomes the latest watchdog fired by Trump |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/15/politics/state-department-inspector-general-fired/index.html |access-date=14 December 2021 |work=CNN |date=17 May 2020}} In that letter, Trump said that the firing was necessary because he had lost confidence in Linick, however Pompeo later said that it was his decision to remove Linick.{{cite news |last1=Hansler |first1=Jennifer |last2=Gaouette |first2=Nicole |last3=Atwood |first3=Kylie |title=Pompeo says he asked Trump to fire inspector general because he was 'undermining' the State Department |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/18/politics/pompeo-inspector-general-firing-explanation/index.html |access-date=11 February 2022 |date=18 May 2020}}
Congress held hearings to determine if Linick's firing was in retaliation for conducting investigations related to Secretary Pompeo and other officials.{{cite news |last1=McCarthy |first1=Tom |title=Pelosi: Trump firing of Steve Linick could be 'unlawful if it's retaliation' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/may/17/pelosi-trump-steve-linick-firing-retaliation-unlawful |access-date=15 February 2022 |work=The Guardian |date=17 May 2020}} In a June 2020 Congressional hearing, Linick testified about the circumstances leading to his firing, including an investigation into whether Pompeo and his wife used government staff for private errands, and alleged “bullying” by Pompeo aide Brian Bulatao to try to stop an investigation into emergency arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates despite congressional objections.{{cite news |last1=Siegel |first1=Benjamin |last2=Finnegan |first2=Conor |last3=Faulders |first3=Katherine |title=State Department inspector general fired by Trump testifies for 7 hours |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/state-department-inspector-general-fired-trump-defends-record/story?id=71042315 |access-date=15 February 2022 |work=ABC News |date=3 June 2020}}
Linick had been probing Trump's controversial bypassing of Congress to sell weapons to Saudi Arabia.{{Cite web|last=Cohen |first=Zachary |title=Pompeo refused to cooperate with watchdog probe into $8B arms sale to Saudi Arabia, source says |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/18/politics/state-department-inspector-general-investigating-pompeo-saudi-arms-deal/index.html |date=May 17, 2020 |publisher=NBC News |via=CNN |access-date=2020-05-24}} Linick had also been conducting—as he testified to Congress on June 3, 2020, which was released in a transcript a week later—five investigations into the State Department, including a watchdog investigation into Secretary Mike Pompeo's alleged use of a political appointee as a domestic personal assistant.{{Cite web|last1=Lederman|first1=Josh|last2=Mitchell|first2=Andrea|date=May 17, 2020|title=Fired State Dept. watchdog was probing whether Pompeo made staffer walk dog, pick up laundry|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/fired-state-department-watchdog-was-looking-whether-pompeo-made-staffer-n1208981|access-date=2020-05-18 |work=NBC News}}{{Cite web|last1=Perano|first1=Ursula|last2=Falconer|first2=Rebecca|date=11 June 2020|title=Fired IG says he was working on 5 investigations into State Department when he was ousted|url=https://www.axios.com/watchdog-5-state-department-investigations-afa4c20e-439e-4cc4-b926-5803f638f09c.html|access-date=2020-06-14|website=Axios|language=en}}{{Cite web|author=House Committee on Foreign Affairs |type=Transcript |date=3 June 2020 |title=Interview: of Steve A. Linick|url=https://foreignaffairs.house.gov/_cache/files/4/7/47b1f13c-7b02-4b58-a32d-d4cb74ee9291/4260E22C7282CBACBC5D94AA72FAB265.linick-final-redacted.pdf|access-date=14 June 2020|website=House Committee on Foreign Affairs}}{{Cite web|first=Andrew |last=Desiderio|title=Fired watchdog was investigating arms sales to Saudi Arabia|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/05/18/linick-administration-arms-sales-saudi-arabia-265024|access-date=2020-07-14 |date=2020-05-18 |website=Politico}}
In April 2021, the State Department Inspector General’s Office released the final report on the internal investigation begun by Linick concerning Pompeo’s improper use of State Department employees as Secretary of State. The report found that more than a hundred improper requests were made by either Pompeo or his wife, including asking aides to mail out personal holiday cards, care for family pets, or plan personal events not related to State Department activities.{{cite news |last1=Shesgreen |first1=Deirdre |title=Watchdog: Pompeo, his wife made more than 100 personal requests of State Department employees |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/04/16/mike-pompeo-wife-asked-state-department-staff-handle-personal-tasks/7260122002/ |access-date=11 January 2022 |work=USA Today |date=16 April 2021}}
When he was dismissed, Linick was also investigating a potential pattern of racist and sexist behavior by Woody Johnson, the ambassador to the United Kingdom, as well as the possibility that Johnson had used his position as ambassador to advance President Trump’s personal business interests.{{cite news |last1=Borger |first1=Julian |title=US ambassador to UK accused of making racist and sexist remarks |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jul/22/us-ambassador-uk-woody-johnson-accused-racist-sexist-comments |access-date=5 January 2022 |work=The Guardian |date=23 July 2020}} A report released by the IG’s office in August 2020 found that Johnson had made “inappropriate or insensitive comments” to Embassy staff in London,{{cite news |last1=Forgey |first1=Quint |title=State Department watchdog finds Trump's U.K. ambassador 'made inappropriate or insensitive comments' |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/08/12/trump-ambassador-state-department-394306 |access-date=11 January 2022 |work=Politico |date=12 August 2020}} but the allegations that Johnson had attempted to further Trump’s private business interests as ambassador were not investigated further.{{cite news |last1=Finnegan |first1=Conor |title=Watchdog report faults Trump's UK envoy Woody Johnson for 'insensitive comments,' 'negative effect' on morale |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/watchdog-report-faults-trumps-uk-envoy-woody-johnson/story?id=72328769 |access-date=11 January 2022 |work=ABC News |date=12 August 2020}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{wikiquote}}
- {{C-SPAN}}
{{First impeachment and impeachment trial of Donald Trump}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Linick, Steve A.}}
Category:Georgetown University Law Center alumni
Category:People from Washington, D.C.
Category:United States Department of State officials
Category:United States inspectors general by name
Category:Inspectors general removed or fired by Donald Trump