Well what do ya KNOW?
A US Senator IS trying to step to the plate against Trump & Co.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has launched an investigation into President Trump’s purge of numerous top federal labor officials, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: The probe, which Sanders opened this week, is one of the first signs of Democrats flexing oversight muscle against the new administration.
- Sanders requested from leaders at the National Labor Relations Board and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission any communications with the Trump transition team or administration, according to a letter obtained by Axios.
- That was after Trump this week took the unprecedented step of firing Democratic members on both boards — part of a string of actions testing presidential power.
- The firings have rendered both boards essentially inoperable, without enough members to carry out many of their responsibilities.
The big picture: Sanders, the top Democrat on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, called the firings “deeply concerning” and said some were “patently illegal.”
- While Trump’s firing of general counsels at the agencies is routine for new presidents, his termination of board members was highly unusual. Board members serve five-year terms, and can only be dismissed for cause.
- Sanders requested that the agencies provide all communications with the Trump camp related to the firings by Feb. 12.
Catch up quick: Senate Democrats last year failed to confirm a Democratic member of the NLRB, which would have guaranteed the party’s control over the board for the next two years….
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