Hampton Dellinger

Well, for almost a year, I was the place that if you're a federal government whistleblower and you see wrongdoing happening on your job in the government, you could come to my office and report it. I could initiate an investigation. And if you happen to be retaliated against for blowing the whistle, I could help protect you.

Well, for almost a year, I was the place that if you're a federal government whistleblower and you see wrongdoing happening on your job in the government, you could come to my office and report it. I could initiate an investigation. And if you happen to be retaliated against for blowing the whistle, I could help protect you.

That's right. And for 50 years, presidents had respected that design, had respected that there would be a limited but important role for my office and that we would have a measure of protection so we wouldn't worry about losing our jobs when we stood up for other federal employees who are unlawfully losing their jobs.

That's right. And for 50 years, presidents had respected that design, had respected that there would be a limited but important role for my office and that we would have a measure of protection so we wouldn't worry about losing our jobs when we stood up for other federal employees who are unlawfully losing their jobs.

Yes and no. I had seen inspectors general, really capable, hardworking IGs be ousted. I knew that there was a general view that they didn't want independent watchdogs in the executive branch, but I also knew the history of my office and that had been around for 50 years and courts had respected that independence for 50 years.

Yes and no. I had seen inspectors general, really capable, hardworking IGs be ousted. I knew that there was a general view that they didn't want independent watchdogs in the executive branch, but I also knew the history of my office and that had been around for 50 years and courts had respected that independence for 50 years.

So when I got the email saying, you're fired, thank you for your service, I didn't feel like they meant it. I also didn't feel like it merited a response. So I went back and forth. And, you know, I'm someone who believes in the presidency. I want to see every American president succeed. But I also knew that my firing violated a law, a law that had been on the books.

So when I got the email saying, you're fired, thank you for your service, I didn't feel like they meant it. I also didn't feel like it merited a response. So I went back and forth. And, you know, I'm someone who believes in the presidency. I want to see every American president succeed. But I also knew that my firing violated a law, a law that had been on the books.

And I just couldn't walk away in the face of that.

And I just couldn't walk away in the face of that.

Certainly that was an aspect of it. I had a three judge panel that was somewhat conservative and that mirrors the Supreme Court. So I knew that it could be an uphill fight, even though I disagree with the court's ruling. I would disagree with the Supreme Court if they found my position unconstitutional. But the other issue, Rachel, is.

Certainly that was an aspect of it. I had a three judge panel that was somewhat conservative and that mirrors the Supreme Court. So I knew that it could be an uphill fight, even though I disagree with the court's ruling. I would disagree with the Supreme Court if they found my position unconstitutional. But the other issue, Rachel, is.

It was going to be months, maybe a year before I'd get a final answer. I'd be on the sidelines the whole time. And I've seen the damage over the past month or so that can happen in days, sometimes even hours to these federal agencies when the laws aren't being followed.

It was going to be months, maybe a year before I'd get a final answer. I'd be on the sidelines the whole time. And I've seen the damage over the past month or so that can happen in days, sometimes even hours to these federal agencies when the laws aren't being followed.

And so the idea of trying to come back in a year and fix what I think might be broken forever in terms of the independence of my agency was not something that I thought I could do.

And so the idea of trying to come back in a year and fix what I think might be broken forever in terms of the independence of my agency was not something that I thought I could do.

Yeah. Rest, maybe. But I tell you, I can't let go of yesterday. I started out in the morning and helped get six thousand unlawfully fired federal employees their jobs back. Yeah. And at the end of the day, I'd lost my job. And so it was my best day at work and my worst day at work on the same day. So I'm going to hold on to that for a little bit.

Yeah. Rest, maybe. But I tell you, I can't let go of yesterday. I started out in the morning and helped get six thousand unlawfully fired federal employees their jobs back. Yeah. And at the end of the day, I'd lost my job. And so it was my best day at work and my worst day at work on the same day. So I'm going to hold on to that for a little bit.

I did. I had brilliant lawyers who assisted me. I got a lot of support from whistleblower advocacy groups, from military veterans groups, because a lot of my job was focused on the VA, which is why, by the way, I think it makes no sense for the president to put in the secretary of the VA. I honor his military service, but he's got a big job on his own to do.

I did. I had brilliant lawyers who assisted me. I got a lot of support from whistleblower advocacy groups, from military veterans groups, because a lot of my job was focused on the VA, which is why, by the way, I think it makes no sense for the president to put in the secretary of the VA. I honor his military service, but he's got a big job on his own to do.