America First Legal (AFL), in collaboration with Boyden Gray PLLC and Givens Pursley LLP, has filed an amicus brief in the case of Robert P. Storch v. Pete Hegseth at the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The brief supports former Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Eric J. Soskin, in defending the President's authority to remove appointed officials under Article II of the U.S. Constitution.
AFL contends that the Inspector General law, when interpreted correctly, allows Inspectors General to work under politically accountable appointees chosen or retained by the President without compromising constitutional accountability to the President and ultimately to the American people.
This argument aligns with a recent opinion dismissing Spicer v. Biden; similarly, in Severino v. Biden et al., it was ruled that a presidential appointee could be removed at will by the President.
AFL pledges to continue advocating for the constitutional rights of the President to maintain government accountability.
Dan Epstein, Senior Vice President of America First Legal, stated: "Every recent law graduate taking the bar exam studies that it is black letter constitutional law that Congress cannot encumber the President’s decision to remove a principal law enforcement officer. Our client has reminded the court of that principle — a principle that is essential to allowing both an energetic presidency and one where the President is the exclusive representative of his own branch."