Biden fumbles swipe at outspoken Chuck Grassley over inspector general firing

Trump fired a State Department inspector general last week, one of five independent investigative watchdogs that Trump removed. The firing of the State Department official has prompted harsh criticism from Democrats in light of reports that he was investigating reports of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo having an aide walk his dog and run personal errands for him.

“Where are they? Why aren’t they speaking up about this? It really bothers me. It bothers me a lot,” Biden said.

Grassley, an Iowa Republican, sent a letter to Trump on Monday asking for a “detailed reasoning” for the firing of the State Department inspector general. The law requires the president to provide reasons for removing an inspector general.

Republican Sens. Mitt Romney of Utah and Susan Collins of Maine have also criticized Trump for failing to explain his firing of the State Department inspector general.

Grassley told CNN that he will “try to get to the bottom” of the firing and said, “It’s not difficult for me to take on any president.”

“That’s my reputation, Republican or Democrat,” he added.

A Grassley spokesman responded to Biden’s comment in a tweet on Wednesday.

“@JoeBiden may have forgotten and missed a lot of what goes on around him, but @ChuckGrassley has demanded answers and been among the most outspoken members of Congress,” the spokesman said, pointing to several press releases that detailed Grassley’s actions and statements about inspector general firings.

In April, Grassley wrote several other letters and statements about the importance of inspectors general and safeguarding their authority.

“The White House should empower inspectors general so they’re able to do their job, as President Trump did with Inspector General Horowitz and his report on FISA abuse involving the president’s 2016 campaign,” he said in one statement.