The lawyer representing Susan Monarez, the embattled director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said only President Trump can fire her, after both the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the White House released statements saying she was removed from her post.

“Our client was notified tonight by White House staff in the personnel office that she was fired. As a presidential appointee, Senate-confirmed officer, only the president himself can fire her,” attorney Mark Zaid wrote around midnight Wednesday.

“For this reason, we reject notification Dr. Monarez has received as legally deficient and she remains as CDC Director. We have notified the White House Counsel of our position."

Zaid had earlier rejected an HHS statement, posted online around 5:30 p.m

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