{"slug":"trump-first-term-pompeo-state-dept-personal-errands","title":"Mike Pompeo: State Department Staff Used for Personal Errands, Spouse Events Charged to Taxpayers","date":"2018-04-26","lastUpdated":"2020-09-03","description":"Mike Pompeo, Trump's Secretary of State from April 2018 to January 2021, was found by the State Department's inspector general to have used State Department staff and resources for personal purposes, including having staff walk his dog, make restaurant reservations, pick up his dry cleaning, and arrange personal events for his wife Susan Pompeo. The IG also found that Pompeo and his wife charged at least 17 dinners to State Department accounts — costs that were supposed to be for diplomatic purposes but included personal and politically-oriented events. Pompeo fired the inspector general investigating him in May 2020.","summary":"The State Department IG's report, released in September 2020, found that Pompeo had used department staff and resources for personal and political purposes in violation of federal regulations. Staff described being directed to walk Pompeo's dog, pick up his dry cleaning, make restaurant reservations, and run other personal errands. Susan Pompeo, who had an official role as diplomatic spouse, used State Department resources for what the IG characterized as non-official events. At least 17 dinners charged to the State Department were found to include politically-oriented guests or personal guests rather than serving diplomatic purposes. Pompeo had fired IG Steve Linick in May 2020; Linick said the firing was retaliation for the investigation. Pompeo denied wrongdoing.","category":"corruption","severity":"significant","ongoing":false,"sources":[{"url":"https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/03/us/politics/pompeo-inspector-general-report.html","title":"Pompeo Used State Dept. Staff for Personal Tasks, Inspector General Finds","publisher":"The New York Times"},{"url":"https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/pompeo-state-department-staff-personal-errands-ig/2020/09/03/story.html","title":"State Dept. IG: Pompeo used staff for personal errands, wife's events","publisher":"The Washington Post"},{"url":"https://apnews.com/article/pompeo-inspector-general-personal-errands-wife-events","title":"State Department IG finds Pompeo used staff for personal errands","publisher":"The Associated Press"},{"url":"https://oig.state.gov/sites/default/files/pompeo-ig-report-2020.pdf","title":"Review of Resources and Personnel Decisions at the Department of State","publisher":"State Department Office of Inspector General"}],"draft":false,"status":"published","tags":["Pompeo","State-Department","first-term","corruption","inspector-general","personal-errands","oversight"],"relatedEntries":[],"timeline":[{"date":"2018-04-26","title":"Pompeo confirmed as Secretary of State","summary":"Pompeo is confirmed as Secretary of State, transitioning from CIA Director. He brings personal staff preferences and begins using State Department staff and resources in ways that the IG will later find violate federal regulations."},{"date":"2020-05-15","title":"Pompeo fires IG Linick — says to fire him, Trump acts without knowing reason","summary":"Pompeo requests that Trump fire Inspector General Steve Linick. Trump fires Linick, later saying he gave Pompeo one hour's notice and did not know the reason for the request. Linick says the firing was retaliation for his investigation into Pompeo's use of State Department resources. A second investigation — into the Saudi arms sale emergency declaration — is also terminated."},{"date":"2020-09-03","title":"IG report released — personal errands, wife events, hospitality funds documented","summary":"The State Department IG releases its report finding that Pompeo used staff for personal errands including dog walking and dry cleaning, that his wife used State Department resources for personal events, and that diplomatic hospitality funds were used for events that did not meet official requirements. Pompeo denies wrongdoing."}],"location":{"name":"Washington, D.C.","lat":38.9072,"lng":-77.0369},"custom":{"era":"first-term","posture":"reported","warCrimeClassification":"enabling","internationalLaw":[],"iccRelevance":false,"victims":"Federal taxpayers whose funds were used for personal errands and events; State Department staff directed to perform personal tasks for their boss; the integrity of diplomatic hospitality funds meant for official purposes","structuredPerpetrators":[{"name":"Mike Pompeo","role":"Secretary of State; used State Department staff for personal errands including dog walking and dry cleaning pickup; charged personal and politically-oriented events to diplomatic hospitality accounts; fired the inspector general conducting the investigation","institution":"Department of State"}],"updateLog":[{"date":"2020-09-03","summary":"Based on September 2020 IG report release."}]}}