Appeals court allows removal of watchdog agency after Trump firing

President Donald Trump leaves the chamber after addressing a joint session of Congress (Win McNamee/Pool Photo/AP)

An appeals court in Washington removed the head of a federal watchdog agency in the latest twist in a legal fight over president Donald Trump’s authority to fire the special counsel.

The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia sided with the Trump administration on Wednesday in allowing the immediate removal of Hampton Dellinger as head of the Office of Special Counsel while the court battle continues. Mr Dellinger is likely to appeal to the US Supreme Court.