Pompeo digs in during combative press briefing as scrutiny grows

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo held a combative press conference Wednesday that saw him fending off questions about his call to fire the State Department’s internal watchdog while slamming Democrats criticizing the move as political retaliation.Pompeo defended President Trump’s authority in firing State Department Inspector General Steve Linick late Friday, and doubled down in defending his recommendation that the watchdog be ousted, saying it…