One of the more controversial appointments of former President Trump, Roger Severino, is suing Biden’s government, claiming he illegally threatened to end his position on a regulatory board.
“President Biden’s attempt to remove me in violation of the law reveals his lofty promises to heal and unite all Americans as cynical manipulation,” Severino said in a statement to Fox News on Wednesday.
“Because I am not being bullied by the president himself, I will not resign my proper order and look forward to seeing President Biden try to justify his vindictive actions in court.”
Severino previously served as head of the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), where he carried out much of Trump’s social-conservative agenda. Before Trump left office, he appointed Severino to the Board of the United States Administrative Conference (ACUS). Severino will receive his mandate on January 16, just four days before the inauguration of President Biden.
TRUMP’s conservative agenda at HHS set by the department’s office of the general council
Wednesday’s lawsuit is being filed in DC District Court, alleging that Biden could not unilaterally end his three-year tenure at ACUS. ‘The law stipulated by ACUS stipulates that Mr. Severino’s term in the Council lasts three years and that the law does not provide for or provide for presidential removal, ‘reads the lawsuit.
The case contains the text of an email from Gautam Raghavan, the deputy director of the White House presidential staff office.
It reads: “I am writing on behalf of President Biden to request your resignation at the US Council Administrative Conference at 5:00 pm tomorrow, Wednesday, February 3. If you do not resign by then, you must be terminated. Thank you for your time and service. “
According to the documentation, Severino did not resign. He responded by telling Raghavan he was “surprised by your note. What is the reason for requesting my resignation so early in my term?”
Raghavan, President Biden, and Catherine M. Russell, who serves as director of the White House presidential staff office, were all named as defendants in the lawsuit.
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Severino claims that other ACUS members received similar emails. The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News’ request for comment.
Severino’s tenure at HHS included the pursuit of Trump’s more controversial policies on gender, sexuality, abortion, and religious freedom. Fox News reported earlier on how former administration officials claimed that the HHS board member’s office had blocked the president’s agenda at OCR.