A report from the Inspector General of the U.S. State Department revealed on Friday that Mike Pompeo and his wife violated ethical rules while he served as Secretary of State under former President Donald Trump. They allegedly requested employees to perform personal tasks, such as walking their dog or making restaurant reservations. These accusations came in a report following internal investigations that sparked controversy when Trump fired the State Department inspector general last year at Pompeo's request. This decision by the former president coincided with the start of a review by the internal oversight body into the complaint.
However, the Inspector General's office continued its investigations even after the Trump administration left office in January. The investigations uncovered that Pompeo and his wife, Susan, made over a hundred requests for "personal nature tasks." The report stated that the Inspector General "found that such requests are inconsistent with the Department's ethical rules and the standards of ethical conduct for executive branch employees." It noted that Pompeo repeatedly asked a senior advisor to take care of his dog, including picking it up from the border and walking it.
Democratic Congressman Gregory Meeks, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, stated that the report revealed Pompeo "misused his position as Secretary of State for personal benefit to himself, his family, and his future political ambitions." He called for further scrutiny to determine if Pompeo violated statutes, including the Hatch Act, which prohibits government employees from using their positions for political activity. Meeks emphasized that the State Department should ascertain whether matters should be "referred to the Justice Department, if necessary, to recover taxpayer money wasted by former Secretary Pompeo and his family."
The Inspector General did not recommend any action against Pompeo, who left office after Trump lost the election and is believed to be seeking the presidency in 2024. However, the report suggested clarifying the rules within the State Department, noting that employees were confused about whether they could purchase movie tickets or other tickets for Pompeo. Some believed such tasks could fall under official duties due to the necessity of informing security personnel tasked with protecting Pompeo.
Among other incidents, the report revealed that Pompeo tasked employees over thirty times with making personal restaurant reservations. Additionally, Susan Pompeo requested employees to arrange gifts when invited with her husband to the homes of a television news anchor and commentator, as well as to buy a souvenir shirt for the daughter of a personal friend who is a priest in Ukraine. The report indicated that Pompeo's son received a discount on hotel room fees for government employees when he accompanied his parents to a football game, which was listed as an official trip.
The report further mentioned that Pompeo told the Inspector General he likes "to pay less" but cannot recall the details and that it would be "quite inappropriate" to use his official position to secure discounts. Pompeo, a lawyer and former businessman who was not wealthy compared to most members of the Trump administration, has recently become a commentator on Fox News and took a position at the Hudson Institute.
