In this screenshot from the RNC's livestream of the 2020 Republican National Convention, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo addresses the virtual convention in a pre-recorded video from Jerusalem, Israel on August 25, 2020. (Photo: Committee on Arrangements for the 2020 Republican National Committee via Getty Images)
Mike Pompeo Under Investigation for 'Corrupt' and Likely Unlawful RNC Speech From Jerusalem While on Taxpayer-Funded Trip
"The Trump administration and Secretary Pompeo have shown a gross disregard not only of basic ethics, but also a blatant willingness to violate federal law for political gain."
Shortly before U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's prerecorded speech from Jerusalem aired during the Republican National Convention Tuesday night, the House of Representatives launched an investigation into the top American diplomat's "likely unprecedented" and potentially unlawful decision to address the partisan event while overseas on taxpayer-funded government business.
Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), vice chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and chairman of the panel's Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, announced the investigation in a statement Tuesday, declaring that "the Trump administration and Secretary Pompeo have shown a gross disregard not only of basic ethics, but also a blatant willingness to violate federal law for political gain."
"Congress has a responsibility to stand up for the rule of law and hold them accountable for this corrupt behavior."
--Rep. Joaquin Castro
"Congress has a responsibility to stand up for the rule of law and hold them accountable for this corrupt behavior," said Castro. "It's absolutely unacceptable that a sitting U.S. Secretary of State, America's top diplomat, would use official taxpayer-funded business to participate in a political party convention, particularly after the State Department published guidance that explicitly prohibits such activity."
In a letter to Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun on Tuesday, Castro demanded information on "what Department of State resources, if any, were used to organize this event, including transportation, coordination with the host government, diplomatic security, and lodging."
Castro also urged Biegun to turn over "any and all records prepared by or sent to or from the Office of the Legal Adviser on or after December 3, 2019 regarding restrictions on political activities by Secretary Pompeo or presidential appointees."
As Common Dreams reported earlier this week, news that Pompeo would deliver a convention speech while on an official trip to Israel was met with alarm by legal experts and commentators, who condemned the move as unethical and "an outrageous exploitation of religion" in the service of President Donald Trump's reelection efforts.
Pompeo's speech--which effusively praised Trump's foreign policy, including the likely illegal assassination of Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani that brought the two nations to the brink of all-out war earlier this year--marked the first time in at least 75 years that a sitting secretary of state has addressed a national party convention, presidential historian Michael Beschloss told the New York Times.
As Politico reported, an internal State Department legal memo says "Senate-confirmed Presidential appointees may not even attend a political party convention or convention-related event."
"There do not appear to be exceptions made for Pompeo, a Senate-confirmed presidential appointee," Politico noted. "And in general, the restrictions are even more strict for U.S. diplomats when they are overseas."
Ryan Costello, policy director at the National Iranian American Council, tweeted late Tuesday that it's "funny that Mike Pompeo broke his own ethics rules to remind everyone he is both uninspiring and untethered to reality."
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Shortly before U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's prerecorded speech from Jerusalem aired during the Republican National Convention Tuesday night, the House of Representatives launched an investigation into the top American diplomat's "likely unprecedented" and potentially unlawful decision to address the partisan event while overseas on taxpayer-funded government business.
Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), vice chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and chairman of the panel's Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, announced the investigation in a statement Tuesday, declaring that "the Trump administration and Secretary Pompeo have shown a gross disregard not only of basic ethics, but also a blatant willingness to violate federal law for political gain."
"Congress has a responsibility to stand up for the rule of law and hold them accountable for this corrupt behavior."
--Rep. Joaquin Castro
"Congress has a responsibility to stand up for the rule of law and hold them accountable for this corrupt behavior," said Castro. "It's absolutely unacceptable that a sitting U.S. Secretary of State, America's top diplomat, would use official taxpayer-funded business to participate in a political party convention, particularly after the State Department published guidance that explicitly prohibits such activity."
In a letter to Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun on Tuesday, Castro demanded information on "what Department of State resources, if any, were used to organize this event, including transportation, coordination with the host government, diplomatic security, and lodging."
Castro also urged Biegun to turn over "any and all records prepared by or sent to or from the Office of the Legal Adviser on or after December 3, 2019 regarding restrictions on political activities by Secretary Pompeo or presidential appointees."
As Common Dreams reported earlier this week, news that Pompeo would deliver a convention speech while on an official trip to Israel was met with alarm by legal experts and commentators, who condemned the move as unethical and "an outrageous exploitation of religion" in the service of President Donald Trump's reelection efforts.
Pompeo's speech--which effusively praised Trump's foreign policy, including the likely illegal assassination of Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani that brought the two nations to the brink of all-out war earlier this year--marked the first time in at least 75 years that a sitting secretary of state has addressed a national party convention, presidential historian Michael Beschloss told the New York Times.
As Politico reported, an internal State Department legal memo says "Senate-confirmed Presidential appointees may not even attend a political party convention or convention-related event."
"There do not appear to be exceptions made for Pompeo, a Senate-confirmed presidential appointee," Politico noted. "And in general, the restrictions are even more strict for U.S. diplomats when they are overseas."
Ryan Costello, policy director at the National Iranian American Council, tweeted late Tuesday that it's "funny that Mike Pompeo broke his own ethics rules to remind everyone he is both uninspiring and untethered to reality."
Shortly before U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's prerecorded speech from Jerusalem aired during the Republican National Convention Tuesday night, the House of Representatives launched an investigation into the top American diplomat's "likely unprecedented" and potentially unlawful decision to address the partisan event while overseas on taxpayer-funded government business.
Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), vice chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and chairman of the panel's Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, announced the investigation in a statement Tuesday, declaring that "the Trump administration and Secretary Pompeo have shown a gross disregard not only of basic ethics, but also a blatant willingness to violate federal law for political gain."
"Congress has a responsibility to stand up for the rule of law and hold them accountable for this corrupt behavior."
--Rep. Joaquin Castro
"Congress has a responsibility to stand up for the rule of law and hold them accountable for this corrupt behavior," said Castro. "It's absolutely unacceptable that a sitting U.S. Secretary of State, America's top diplomat, would use official taxpayer-funded business to participate in a political party convention, particularly after the State Department published guidance that explicitly prohibits such activity."
In a letter to Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun on Tuesday, Castro demanded information on "what Department of State resources, if any, were used to organize this event, including transportation, coordination with the host government, diplomatic security, and lodging."
Castro also urged Biegun to turn over "any and all records prepared by or sent to or from the Office of the Legal Adviser on or after December 3, 2019 regarding restrictions on political activities by Secretary Pompeo or presidential appointees."
As Common Dreams reported earlier this week, news that Pompeo would deliver a convention speech while on an official trip to Israel was met with alarm by legal experts and commentators, who condemned the move as unethical and "an outrageous exploitation of religion" in the service of President Donald Trump's reelection efforts.
Pompeo's speech--which effusively praised Trump's foreign policy, including the likely illegal assassination of Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani that brought the two nations to the brink of all-out war earlier this year--marked the first time in at least 75 years that a sitting secretary of state has addressed a national party convention, presidential historian Michael Beschloss told the New York Times.
As Politico reported, an internal State Department legal memo says "Senate-confirmed Presidential appointees may not even attend a political party convention or convention-related event."
"There do not appear to be exceptions made for Pompeo, a Senate-confirmed presidential appointee," Politico noted. "And in general, the restrictions are even more strict for U.S. diplomats when they are overseas."
Ryan Costello, policy director at the National Iranian American Council, tweeted late Tuesday that it's "funny that Mike Pompeo broke his own ethics rules to remind everyone he is both uninspiring and untethered to reality."