Federal Judge Blocks Trump’s Office Of Special Counsel Chief Removal
A federal judge has ruled that President Donald Trump’s decision to fire Hampton Dellinger from his role as head of the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) was unlawful, setting up a likely legal showdown in higher courts. The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson on Saturday, mandates that Dellinger be reinstated to his position.
The case centers around Dellinger’s removal on February 7, when Trump dismissed him along with several other agency inspectors general. Dellinger challenged the move, arguing that his five-year term was protected by law and that he could only be removed for “inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.”
Obama appointee and shameless Trump hater Judge Amy Berman Jackson last night issued the order we all expected–she declared the president's firing of Hampton Dellinger, head of Office of Special Counsel, was unlawful. (Reading thru her accompanying 67-page opinion now) pic.twitter.com/u21A2kAQQN
— Julie Kelly 🇺🇸 (@julie_kelly2) March 2, 2025
Jackson ruled in Dellinger’s favor, writing that the OSC’s independence, as established by Congress, would be undermined if the president could remove its leader arbitrarily. She determined that the email notification of Dellinger’s termination contained no justification, reinforcing the argument that his removal did not meet legal standards.
🚨JUST IN: The Judge in the Hampton Dellinger case ruled that President Trump’s firing of him was illegal. She declared firing illegal, and ordered Dellinger be reinstated as Special Counsel.
SCOTUS had already ruled with the two dissenting justices arguing reinstatement is… pic.twitter.com/TMJZB8ObKO
— Walter Curt (@WCdispatch_) March 2, 2025
The judge’s order enjoins officials at the Office of Management and Budget and the Treasury Department from interfering with Dellinger’s role. However, it does not place direct restrictions on Trump himself. The decision follows an earlier temporary restraining order that prevented Dellinger’s firing while legal proceedings continued.
Crooked Judge Amy Berman Jackson made the dumbest point in history about President Trump firing Hampton Dellinger, the crooked special counsel, "His actual job is to be a check and balance on the president."
Can someone remind this witch that the Executive Branch is checked by… pic.twitter.com/oQLNZIK1JM
— George (@BehizyTweets) February 26, 2025
The Trump administration has already appealed the decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. The Supreme Court recently declined to intervene in the case, opting to wait until the lower court issued a ruling.
Crooked Judge Amy Berman Jackson made the dumbest point in history about President Trump firing Hampton Dellinger, the crooked special counsel, "His actual job is to be a check and balance on the president."
Can someone remind this witch that the Executive Branch is checked by… pic.twitter.com/oQLNZIK1JM
— George (@BehizyTweets) February 26, 2025
This is not the first time a judge has blocked Trump’s attempts to remove Biden-appointed officials. The legal battle over Dellinger’s position now moves to the appellate level, where a final determination on the scope of the president’s removal powers will likely be made.