Former President Donald Trump's attempt to remove Federal Election Commission Chair Ellen Weintraub has ignited a legal controversy. Trump sent Weintraub a letter declaring her removal from the commission, a move she quickly challenged. Weintraub took to social media platform X, asserting the president's action lacked legal basis and affirming her intention to continue her work.

This incident follows a pattern of significant personnel changes within the government since Trump's return to office in January 2025. He has reportedly dismissed numerous officials and civil servants, aiming to reshape the bureaucracy. Weintraub's outspoken criticism of Trump, particularly regarding his voter fraud allegations, likely contributed to the tension between them.

The image above depicts Ellen Weintraub at a Federal Election Commission event in Washington, D.C., on January 14, 2020. (Federal Election Commission/Handout via Reuters, File)

Weintraub shared the dismissal letter on social media. The brief correspondence, dated January 31, 2025, and signed by Trump, thanked her for her service and declared her immediate removal. This action reignites a previous clash between Weintraub and Trump, where she publicly denounced his claims of voter fraud as "baseless" and detrimental to democracy. In a 2019 CNN interview, she directly challenged Trump's assertions, emphasizing the lack of evidence supporting widespread voter fraud.

With contributions from Fox News Digital's Joshua Nelson.

This article was written by Greg Wehner, a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital. For news tips and suggestions, contact him at [email protected] or on Twitter @GregWehner.