Like every two-bit criminal, Trump always does his dirty work late on a Friday night, and he’s done a lot of Friday night purges lately, perhaps none worse than last night’s.

Trump fired Steve Linick, the inspector general of the State Department. It is particularly egregious given that Linick was actively investigating Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and that there is no department Trump has done more to undermine than the State Department. It appears that Trump fired I.G. Linick precisely because he was investigating Pompeo.

This is a sign of fascism, a necessary move in the continuous drift away from the rule of law. In this administration, when the police start investigating illegal conduct, the top mob boss fires the policeman. That is how fascist dictatorships work, and that’s us. Russia has written laws, too – they just don’t matter because Putin enforces them differently as applied to different people. Trump continues to imitate his biggest hero.

Politico breaks down the mechanics of Trump’s latest break with our regulatory norms and the rule of law:

Trump’s move infuriated Democrats who say he’s trying to circumvent oversight of his administration, undermining the ability of other branches to hold him accountable. The move follows Trump’s anger at being impeached, but it also comes as the White House struggles to combat the coronavirus pandemic just months before the presidential election.

“The president’s late-night, weekend firing of the State Department inspector general has accelerated his dangerous pattern of retaliation against the patriotic public servants charged with conducting oversight on behalf of the American people,” Pelosi said in an statement. “Inspector General Linick was punished for honorably performing his duty to protect the Constitution and our national security, as required by the law and by his oath.”

As everyone knows, the Inspectors General offices are critical. They investigate their own departments. If Trump fires any inspector general who is investigating one of Trump’s departments, Trump is literally firing “the police” who might report the corruption in his administration and hold it accountable. More and more, this White House doesn’t even seem interested in hiding the fact that it operates as a sophisticated crime syndicate whose mission is to make money. Trump got his start in the early 80s with the Russian mob and hasn’t left them yet. With such a history, it is no wonder he follows their style of leadership.

Engel claimed: “I have learned that the Office of the Inspector General had opened an investigation into Secretary Pompeo. Mr. Linick’s firing amid such a probe strongly suggests that this is an unlawful act of retaliation.”

A Democratic congressional aide said Linick had launched an investigation into Pompeo’s alleged misuse of a political appointee to perform personal tasks for him and Mrs. Pompeo. The State Department did not respond to an inquiry about the allegation.

So it sounds like Pompeo got some deputy, who Pompeo used as a runner. “I need you to mow my lawn, pick up the dry-cleaning, get Mrs. Pompeo’s poodle “Pennelope” her shots, pick up some P.F. Changs, and drop this envelope stuffed with $250,000 in cash off to Ivan in the Russian embassy, they will know you’re coming.” (I am, of course, speculating, never having had a personal aide). It is ironic that all the self-respecting autocratic “leaders” in dictatorships across the world have such “personal aides.” But when Mr. Linick received a report on Pompeo’s “personal aide” and did his job, by investigating the matter, Linick got fired for his trouble … late at night on Friday, as they all do.

The descent to fascism continues, and it is reported as just another “Trump move” with Democrats in a rage, and Republicans standing by watching as if this is all okay.

Republicans would have burned down the White House by now had Obama tried to pull even one of these dictatorial moves.

More on this later today.

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Peace, y’all

Jason

[email protected] and on Twitter @MiciakZoom