Overview

• The DC Circuit Court of Appeals issued an order allowing the Trump administration to remove Hampton Dellinger from his role as Special Counsel of the Office of Special Counsel.
• Dellinger had previously been reinstated by a federal district judge, who ruled that his firing violated a law limiting presidential authority to remove special counsels.
• The appeals court's decision temporarily overturns the lower court ruling while the case is expedited for further review.
• Dellinger, whose office protects federal whistleblowers, is expected to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court on an emergency basis.
• The legal battle centers on whether Dellinger’s removal adhered to federal laws requiring cause such as inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance.