Why did Hampton Dellinger decide to drop his lawsuit against President Trump's termination?

Hampton Dellinger dropped his lawsuit because he believed his odds of winning at the Supreme Court were low after the D.C. Appeals Court allowed his removal. He also expressed concerns about the independence of the Office of Special Counsel being compromised by his ouster.

What was the legal basis for Dellinger's argument against his termination?

Dellinger argued that he could only be removed for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office, as per the law governing his position. However, he was fired without any stated reason.

How does Dellinger's removal affect the Office of Special Counsel's role in protecting whistleblowers?

Dellinger's removal compromises the independence of the Office of Special Counsel, potentially undermining its ability to protect whistleblowers effectively. The office is now led by someone appointed by President Trump, which could lead to political interference.

What other actions did Dellinger take during his tenure as Special Counsel?

During his tenure, Dellinger took actions such as accusing senior Biden White House officials of violating the Hatch Act and securing the temporary reinstatement of thousands of probationary employees at the Agriculture Department.

7 sources·Politics

Hampton Dellinger Drops Lawsuit Against Trump’s Termination as Special Counsel

Former OSC head Hampton Dellinger ends legal battle against Trump after appeals court rules in the President's favor.

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The fired head of an executive branch agency said on March 6 he’s ending his legal battle against President Donald Trump’s administration.
Official Terminated by Trump Ends Legal Fight After Court Ruling
Epoch Times·13d
Mixed Reliable
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Right
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Dellinger wrote that his legal fight was not for himself but for the ideal that OSC should be as Congress intended: an independent watchdog and a safe, trustworthy place for whistleblowers to report wrongdoing and be protected from retaliation.
Top Bureaucrat Fired By Trump Abandons Legal Bid To Reclaim His Old Job
Daily Caller·13d
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Right
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The harm to the agency and those who rely on it caused by a Special Counsel who is not independent could be immediate, grievous, and, I fear, uncorrectable.
Top government watchdog drops lawsuit challenging his termination by Trump
NBC News·13d
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Dellinger's decision to walk away from the case cuts off its path to the Supreme Court, which has in a pair of recent decisions reasserted the president's power to remove executive branch officers at will.
Head of federal whistleblower office drops legal battle challenging his firing
CBS News·13d
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Dellinger was fired over email on Feb. 7.
Government Watchdog That Trump Fired Drops Lawsuit
HuffPost·13d
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The case had become a flashpoint in the debate over how much power the president should have to replace the leaders of independent agencies as he moves to radically reshape and shrink the federal government.
Fired head of federal watchdog agency says he's ending his legal battle over his removal by Trump
Associated Press·13d
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Mar 6th, 2025, 5:06 PM ET

Summary

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Hampton Dellinger, the former head of the Office of Special Counsel, is dropping his lawsuit against President Trump after a D.C. appeals court sided with the administration regarding his dismissal. Dellinger expressed concerns that the office, now led by someone loyal to the President, would undermine whistleblower protections. Despite a lower court ruling deeming his termination unlawful, Dellinger accepted the appeals court's decision, citing low odds of success at the Supreme Court. He emphasized that the OSC should remain an independent watchdog for whistleblowers, a role he believes is compromised by his removal.

Perspectives

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Dellinger's removal from the Office of Special Counsel raises concerns about the independence of federal watchdog agencies and the potential for political influence in whistleblower protections.
The legal battle reflects ongoing tensions over presidential power to remove independent agency leaders and could have significant implications for federal oversight.
Dellinger's decision to drop the lawsuit after a court sided with the Trump administration highlights the challenges faced by officials seeking to maintain their roles against powerful political interests.

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