Supreme Court Blocks Trump’s Attempt to Oust Biden Appointee Dellinger

The U.S. Supreme Court has thrown a wrench in former President Donald Trump’s plans to rid himself of a certain appointee—namely, Hampton Dellinger—the head of the Special Counsel Office and a proud Biden loyalist. The justices recently decided that Trump won’t be able to fire Dellinger until at least February 26, 2025, making it clear that the mess in the court system isn’t going to resolve itself anytime soon.

Dellinger has been auditioning for the role of a government lifer ever since he was appointed, and it seems he’s fighting tooth and nail to keep that comfy chair. After Trump attempted to fire him earlier this month, Dellinger promptly filed a lawsuit. His argument? He can only be shown the door if there are documented job performance issues—something that, according to him, was conspicuously absent from Trump’s dismissal email.

The Supreme Court won’t allow Trump to immediately fire head of whistleblower office https://t.co/Z1d347WKoo pic.twitter.com/r8Zk84H9X3

— InformedNotInflamed (@JohnDalyNews) February 22, 2025

Lower courts have apparently been sipping the Dellinger Kool-Aid, siding with him at both the district and appellate levels. They have compelled Trump to reinstate Dellinger while the ongoing legal circus plays out. Trump, not one to let this legal drama slide, decided to take his case to the Supreme Court in hopes that wiser heads would prevail. However, the justices’ decision is anything but favorable for him.

In a classic case of the left protecting its own, the Supreme Court justices turned down Trump’s appeal. It appears the liberal majority, led by justices like Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson, was more than happy to keep Dellinger on the taxpayer-funded payroll. Meanwhile, conservative justices Neil Gorsuch and Samuel Alito dissented, arguing that lower courts had overstepped their bounds. These justices expressed skepticism over whether the courts actually possess the authority to dictate such removals, instead emphasizing that most officials in similar situations typically seek back pay, not reinstatement.

What’s the takeaway from this delightful display of judicial gymnastics? The message is that the courts are currently keeping Dellinger sitting pretty, much to Trump’s annoyance. And as this legal showdown continues, the impending district court hearing promises more exciting developments. Will Dellinger cling to his position like a contestant on a reality show? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: this legal soap opera isn’t going to reach a satisfying conclusion anytime soon.