RNC chief calls for Geithner’s termination

The chairman of the Republican National Committee on Monday called on President Obama to fire Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner over the U.S. credit downgrade.

“Obama needs to fire Sec Geithner for pushing the failed economic policies that resulted in the 1st downgrade in US history,” Reince Priebus tweeted Monday. 

Priebus also criticized Geithner for saying in an interview with Fox Business Network in April that there was “no risk” of the U.S. losing its AAA credit rating. The credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s on Friday announced the downgrade of the national credit rating from AAA to AA+.

“The Treasury Department is no place for such irresponsible stewardship,” Priebus said in a statement. “For the good of the country and the health of our economy, President Obama needs to ask the very person who assured the American people this would never happen to step aside.”

Priebus indicated that removing Geithner from his post would be the first “concrete action” the president needs to take in order to help restore confidence in the U.S. economy.

Priebus is the latest member of the Republican Party to blame Geithner for the credit downgrade. Over the weekend, following the Standard & Poor’s announcement, Republicans including House Speaker John Boehner (Ohio), Sens. Jim DeMint (S.C.) and Rand Paul (Ky.) and Reps. Phil Gingrey (Ga.) and Allen West (Fla.) also pushed for Geithner to leave his post either through removal or resignation. 

Geithner said Sunday he planned to remain in his position for the near future, and criticized Congress for dragging out the debt-ceiling debate.

“Congress ultimately owns the credit rating of the United States,” Geithner said.

—This post was updated at 2:02 p.m.