Mike Pompeo violated State Department guidelines by getting staff to book salon appointments


A government watchdog found that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his wife Susan repeatedly asked taxpayer employees to do work of a ‘personal nature’ for them while in office – including caring for their dog and even booking Cheesesteak Factory reservations. 

A report by the Inspector General of the State Department identified more than 100 such requests that political and career employees of the agency Pompeo led did for the couple.

Emails unearthed by investigators show the Pompeos trying to get staff to book movie tickets, let their dog out, and even try to dodge an $8 fee to have a cake cut on their son’s birthday. None of it constituted official business, the IG found. 

In just one example, ‘In June 2018, the Secretary directed a career employee to make a reservation for a Sunday brunch for him and his wife at the Cheesecake Factory,’ according to the report, referencing the popular chain restaurant.

An Inspector General report said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo repeatedly directed staff 'to carry out tasks of a personal nature to benefit him and Mrs. Pompeo' Here Pompeo (L) and his wife Susan hold a glass of beer during a visit at a brewery in Pilsen on August 11, 2020. Susan Pompeo was identified as having staff perform duties involving gifts and Christmas cards

An Inspector General report said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo repeatedly directed staff ‘to carry out tasks of a personal nature to benefit him and Mrs. Pompeo’ Here Pompeo (L) and his wife Susan hold a glass of beer during a visit at a brewery in Pilsen on August 11, 2020. Susan Pompeo was identified as having staff perform duties involving gifts and Christmas cards

The State Department's Inspector General has identified 100 times when the Pompeo's had government officials provide 'personal' tasks, including tending to their dog, Sherman

The State Department’s Inspector General has identified 100 times when the Pompeo’s had government officials provide ‘personal’ tasks, including tending to their dog, Sherman

‘OIG also identified several instances where the Secretary and Mrs. Pompeo requested that … employees purchase or reserve movie, theatre, or event tickets for them,’ it said. 

Pompeo’s wife, Susan, who traveled extensively with him, also made requests of staff.

Among them were asking a senior advisor ‘to purchase hostess gifts for social visits using Department funds,’ including ‘gold nut bowls, for when the Pompeos visited the homes of friends or attended dinners held in their honor by private U.S. citizens.’

The report confirms media reports that the Pompeo’s had staff perform tasks regarding the care of their dog.

‘On several occasions throughout 2018 and 2019, both Secretary and Mrs. Pompeo asked the Senior Advisor to help provide care for the Pompeos’ dog,’ it states.

TABLE FOR 2 PLEASE!: The IG found the Pompeos had a 'career employee to make a reservation for a Sunday brunch'

TABLE FOR 2 PLEASE!: The IG found the Pompeos had a ‘career employee to make a reservation for a Sunday brunch’

‘These requests, most of which were made via email to the Senior Advisor’s Department email account, included picking the dog up from their home and dropping it off with a boarder; picking it up from the boarder and returning it to their home; and stopping by their home to let the dog out when they were not at home. 

Pompeo responded by telling the IG the tasks were ‘de minimis.’

But the IG rejected his argument. ‘In his interview with OIG, Secretary Pompeo explained that such requests were either de minimis in nature or personal assistance of the type provided to longtime friends (noting the pre-existing relationship between the Senior Advisor and the Pompeo family),’ according to the report.

‘While many of the requests took a limited amount of time on an individual basis, other requests, such as event planning, took much longer to execute. Also, the sheer number of such requests, when aggregated, indicates that a non de minimis amount of time was expended by Department employees for the personal benefit of the Pompeos,’ according to the IG.

Among the report’s other findings:

– The Pompeo’s asked aides to carry out personal tasks ‘such as picking up personal items, planning events unrelated to the Department’s mission, and conducting such personal business as pet care and mailing personal Christmas cards

– The IG ‘found that such requests were inconsistent with Department ethics rules and the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch;’

– An advisor who did many of them considered the tasks ‘personal favors;’  

– The Pompeo’s had staff make dinner or lunch reservations 30 times;

– Pompeo told the IG that Diplomatic Security agents ‘requested the Pompeos not book movie tickets themselves, but rather allow Department employees to handle the arrangements ‘for security reasons’

The IG found that such requests ‘were inconsistent with Department ethics rules and the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch,’ it wrote.  

The Pompeo’s also roped staff into helping with carry-out food. In another restaurant booking example, ‘In July 2018, Mrs. Pompeo instructed a career staff member to accompany the wife of Department Counselor Ulrich Brechbuhl to help her pick up dinner from a restaurant for the Pompeos and the Brechbuhls prior to a social outing.’

‘She stated in an email, ‘Michelle and I think Farmers, Fishers, Bakers is a good place for us to carry out dinner tonight. Michelle is willing to drive if one of you would just run in (that way . . . she won’t have to park!).’ 

The Pompeo’s lived in government housing while Pompeo was in office.  But that didn’t prevent Mrs. Pompeo from trying to wiggle out of a caking fee at a visit to a New York restaurant.

‘The Pompeos were planning a dinner at a restaurant in New York City in honor of their son’s birthday and wanted to bring in a cake to be served after dinner,’ according to the IG report. ‘The restaurant had an $8 plating fee for food from outside the restaurant. Mrs. Pompeo emailed two DS agents and noted that the restaurant was giving them “a bad time” about the cake. She then asked the agents: “I don’t know who will conduct advance for this dinner, but maybe the most charming one on that advance crew could fish around about the cake?!!!”’

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