Mr. Dellinger has stepped down from his role as special counsel, raising concerns about the future of his investigations. He made it clear that his fight to remain in the position was not just for himself, but to uphold the Office of Special Counsel (O.S.C.) as an independent watchdog. He believes this office should be a safe place for whistleblowers to report wrongdoing without fear of retaliation. Dellinger stated that the recent decision by appellate judges has undermined the independence of the O.S.C.
As Dellinger leaves, it’s uncertain what will happen to the investigations he was handling. Christopher Bonk, an employment lawyer, expressed hope that the office would continue the work Dellinger started. He noted that the future of these investigations might depend on who is appointed as the next special counsel.
Bonk’s law firm is currently representing a large group of government employees in a class-action lawsuit. This lawsuit challenges the mass firings of probationary workers, which were conducted directly with the Merit Systems Protection Board, bypassing the O.S.C. complaints process. The outcome of this legal battle and the leadership of the O.S.C. could have significant implications for whistleblower protections and government accountability moving forward.