Dellinger Withdraws Lawsuit Against Trump Firing

Hampton Dellinger, the former U.S. Special Counsel, has dropped his lawsuit contesting his firing by President Donald Trump, after a D.C. federal appeals court allowed Trump to remove him temporarily. Dellinger, appointed by former President Joe Biden, argued that his termination without cause violated federal law meant to protect his independence and that of the Office of Special Counsel (OSC), which safeguards whistleblowers. Despite initial legal victories that temporarily reinstated him, Dellinger concluded the odds of prevailing at the Supreme Court were slim. His withdrawal marks a win for Trump as it allows him to appoint a replacement more aligned with his administration. Dellinger expressed concerns about potential harm to OSC's independence and effectiveness under new leadership beholden to the president. This case underscores broader tensions between presidential powers and legislative protections for independent federal offices.