Trump's decision to fire the librarian of Congress sparks an intensifying controversy

[LetMyPeopleVote]

Trump appointees tried to get to work at the Library of Congress. Staff members at the library refused — and called the Capitol Police.
https://bsky.app/profile/mama-gramma-bear.bsky.social/post/3lp55u5sues2f

Link to tweet

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/librarian-congress-fired-trump-newsletter-rcna206534

But it’s not quite that simple: It wasn’t long before lawyers started asking whether a president can appoint temporary officials to serve in a separate branch of government. What’s more, there are related questions as to whether the appointees could legally work in the executive and legislative branches simultaneously.

If that weren’t quite enough, NBC News reported that things got a little dicey when Trump appointees showed up at what they considered their new offices.

Two Trump administration DOJ officials who claimed to be assigned to the Library of Congress in acting leadership roles were turned away from its offices this morning, three sources familiar told NBC News. [Nieves and Perkins] arrived at 9 a.m. at the U.S. Copyright Office in the Madison Building and presented an email saying they were given the new roles, but the two were not allowed into the offices and left. The two had also presented a letter saying that Todd Blanche, the current deputy attorney general, was being appointed to also be the acting librarian of Congress. The two left after speaking with library staff and security.

In case this isn’t obvious, standoffs like these are not at all common. The New York Times reported that when Nieves and Perkins showed up, staff members at the library “balked and called the U.S. Capitol Police as well as their general counsel, Meg Williams, who told the two officials that they were not allowed access to the Copyright Office and asked them to leave.”

Evidently, at least in this instance, that worked.

The controversy is likely to continue — not just because these dubious Trump appointees might try to return to the offices the White House expects them to hold, but also because Democratic lawmakers are pressing the Library of Congress’ inspector general, Kimberly Benoit, to launch an investigation.

With this in mind, it’s unlikely that we’ve heard the last of this story. Watch this space.

[Wild blueberry]

1. Thank you!

Smart, brave ACTUAL employees of Library of Congress and Copyright Office.
Thank you.

[mcar]

2. Don't mess with librarians!

[LetMyPeopleVote]

3. 'Direct attack': Irate House lawmaker slams Trump over 'callous' new firing

This firing is illegal
https://bsky.app/profile/realtuckfrumper.bsky.social/post/3lopdwpxkvl2v

Link to tweet

https://www.rawstory.com/trump-firing-2671921760/

President Donald Trump’s abrupt dismissal of Librarian of Congress Dr. Carla Hayden sparked outrage Thursday and a fierce rebuke from Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee.

“Every Member of Congress I know—Democratic or Republican—loves and respects Dr. Carla Hayden,” DeLauro said in a fiery statement. “A ‘fighter of freedom’ and a guardian of our nation’s truth and intellectual legacy, Dr. Hayden was just abruptly and callously fired by President Trump.”

The Connecticut Democrat called the firing “a direct attack” and “yet another example in the disturbing pattern of the President removing dedicated public servants without cause—likely to fill the position with one of his ‘friends’ who is not qualified and does not care about protecting America’s legacy.”....

DeLauro warned that Hayden’s removal undermines public trust and “the independence of one of our most revered institutions.”

“This move undermines the foundational principles of our democracy,” the Democratic lawmaker said. She demanded that the Trump administration provide a transparent explanation and called on Republicans to break with the president on the issue.