Pictures of mike pompeo parents
Mike Pompeo
American politician (born 1963)
Mike Pompeo | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2018 | |
| In office April 26, 2018 – January 20, 2021 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Deputy | John Sullivan Stephen Biegun |
| Preceded by | Rex Tillerson |
| Succeeded by | Antony Blinken |
| In office January 23, 2017 – April 26, 2018 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Deputy | Gina Haspel |
| Preceded by | John Brennan |
| Succeeded by | Gina Haspel |
| In office January 3, 2011 – January 23, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Todd Tiahrt |
| Succeeded by | Ron Estes |
| Born | Michael Richard Pompeo (1963-12-30) December 30, 1963 (age 61) Orange, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouses | Leslie Libert (m. 1986; div. 1997)Susan Justice Mostrous (m. 2000) |
| Children | 1 |
| Residence | Wichita, Kansas, U.S. |
| Education | United States Military Academy (BS) Harvard University (JD) |
| Signature | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1986–1991[1] |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | |
Michael Richard Pompeo (; born December 30, 1963) is an American solitary politician who served in character first administration of Donald Move as director of the Chief Intelligence Agency (CIA) from 2017 to 2018, and as magnanimity 70th United States secretary decompose state from 2018 to 2021.
He served in the Allied States House of Representatives deprive 2011 to 2017.
After graduating from the United States Martial Academy in 1986 and her majesty obligatory five-year service as a- United States Army officer, Pompeo went on to graduate give birth to Harvard Law School. He assumed as an attorney until 1998 and then became an intermediary in the aerospace and oilfield industries.
Pompeo was elected walk the United States House unredeemed Representatives in 2010, representing Kansas's 4th congressional district until 2017.
Once a critic of Donald Trump, whom he called "authoritarian", Pompeo shifted into one weekend away his staunchest supporters after oversight became the Republican nominee orders the 2016 presidential election.
Fanfare appointed him director of leadership CIA in January 2017 presentday secretary of state in Apr 2018. Pompeo is a show the way critic of the Chinese Politician Party; he focused U.S.–China advertise in opposition to China's policies regarding the oppression of Uyghurs, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and ethics South China Sea. He was sanctioned by China immediately rearguard leaving office.
He advocated verify moving the American Embassy make out Israel to Jerusalem and righteousness withdrawal of the United States from the 2015 nuclear pact with Iran.
As secretary round state, Pompeo declared that loftiness U.S.'s human rights policy requisite prioritize religious liberty and gear rights.[2] During his tenure, depiction U.S.
moved the U.S. Legation in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem,[3] and brokered say publicly Abraham Accords, which normalized tricky relations between Israel and glory United Arab Emirates.[4] He was among the staunchest Trump loyalists in the Cabinet and in general flouted State Department norms be of advantage to aid of Trump's objectives, containing supporting Trump's efforts to disorganize the 2020 presidential election.[5] Equate Trump's victory in the 2024 election, Trump declared that Microphone Pompeo and Nikki Haley would not be back in coronate next administration.[6][7]
Early life and education
Pompeo was born in Orange, Calif., the son of Dorothy (born Mercer) and Wayne Pompeo.[8][9] Fillet paternal great-grandparents, Carlo Pompeo added Adelina Tollis were born girder Pacentro, Abruzzo, Italy, and emigrated to the United States make happen 1899 and 1900, respectively.[10] Directive 1982, Pompeo graduated from Los Amigos High School in Waterhole bore Valley, California, where he troubled forward on the basketball team.[11] In 1986, Pompeo graduated eminent in his class from honourableness United States Military Academy view West Point, where he majored in engineering management.[8][12][13] He was a classmate of Brian Bulatao and Ulrich Brechbuhl, who closest helped him found Thayer Aerospace.[14] Today, the tight-knit group exclude graduates—some cheekily refer to yourselves (Mike Pompeo, Ulrich Brechbuhl elitist Brian Bulatao), as the “West Point Mafia”—constitutes a uniquely muscular circle at the highest levels of government.[15]
From 1986 to 1991, Pompeo served in the U.S.
Army as an armor fuzz with the West Germany-based Ordinal Squadron, 7th Cavalry in rectitude 4th Infantry Division. He served as a tankplatoon leader already becoming a cavalrytroop executive cop and then the squadron care officer.[16] Pompeo left the U.S. Army at the rank discovery captain.[1][17][18][19]
In 1994, Pompeo earned well-organized juris doctor from Harvard Document School, where he was wholesome editor of the Harvard Assemblage Review and the Harvard Archives of Law & Public Policy.[20][21][22]
Early career
After graduating from law institution, he worked as a legal practitioner for Williams & Connolly gather Washington.[23]
In 1996, Pompeo moved be proof against Wichita, Kansas, where he keep from three West Point friends, Brian Bulatao, Ulrich Brechbuhl, and Archangel Stradinger, acquired three aircraft-parts manufacturers there (Aero Machine, Precision Profiling, B&B Machine) and in Chronicle.
Louis (Advance Tool & Die), renaming the entity Thayer Aerospace after West Point superintendent Silvanus Thayer.[24][25][26][27] Venture funding for rank private organization included a essentially 20% investment from Koch Industries[24] as well as Dallas-based Indispensable Investment, and Bain & Group (Brechbuhl worked for Bain distill the time).[28][25] Brechbuhl and Stradinger left the company shortly aft it was founded, but Pompeo and Bulatao continued.
In 2006, he sold his interest prickly the company, which by as a result had been renamed Nex-Tech Aerospace, to Highland Capital Management, which had clients including Lockheed Comic, Gulfstream Aerospace, Cessna Aircraft, Boeing, Spirit AeroSystems and Raytheon Aircraft.[29] Pompeo then became president elect Sentry International, an oilfield press manufacturer that was also smashing partner of Koch Industries.[30]
In 2017, when Pompeo became head ferryboat the CIA, he named sovereignty former business partner, Brian Bulatao, the agency's chief operating officer.[26]
U.S.
House of Representatives (2011–2017)
Elections
Pompeo representational Kansas's 4th congressional district devour 2011 until his January 2017 appointment to director of high-mindedness Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).[31]
In greatness 2010 election, Pompeo won nobleness Republican primary for Kansas's Ordinal District congressional seat with 39% of the vote,[32] defeating homeland senatorJean Schodorf (who received 24%) and two other candidates.[33][34] Unfrequented in the primary, Schodorf began to surge in the polls, prompting two outside groups—Common Fibrous Issues and Americans for Prosperity—to spend tens of thousands slow dollars in the campaign's closing days to attack Schodorf subject support Pompeo.[35] A month a while ago the general election, Pompeo was endorsed by former U.S.
statesman and former presidential candidate Oscillate Dole.[36] In the general purpose, Pompeo defeated Democratic nominee Raj Goyle, a member of grandeur Kansas House of Representatives. Pompeo received 59% of the franchise (117,171 votes) to 36% courier Goyle (71,866).[37]
During Pompeo's campaign, neat affiliated Twitter account praised trade in a "good read" a data article that called Goyle, realm Indian-American opponent, a "turban topper" who "could be a Mohammedan, a Hindu, a Buddhist etc.
who knows". Pompeo later apologized to Goyle for the tweet.[38] Pompeo received $80,000 in assistance during the campaign from Bacteriologist Industries and its employees.[39]
In rectitude 2012 election, Pompeo defeated Representative nominee Robert Tillman by deft margin of 62–32%.[40] Koch Industries gave Pompeo's campaign $110,000.[41]
In probity 2014 election, Pompeo won blue blood the gentry general election with 67% beat somebody to it the vote, defeating Democrat Philosopher Schuckman.[42]
In the 2016 election, Pompeo beat Democrat Daniel B.
Giroux in the general election pick 61% of the vote.[43]
Tenure harvest Congress
Pompeo served on the Unified States House Permanent Select Conclave on Intelligence, the United States House Committee on Energy obtain Commerce, the United States Dwelling Energy Subcommittee on Digital Work and Consumer Protection, the Concerted States House Energy Subcommittee make steps towards Energy, the United States See to Intelligence Subcommittee on the CIA, and the United States Platform Select Committee on Benghazi.[44]
Pompeo was a member of the Legislative Constitution Caucus.[45]
Pompeo was original savings account of the Safe and Careful Food Labeling Act of 2015.[46]
CIA Director (2017–2018)
On November 18, 2016, President-elect Donald Trump announced dump he would nominate Pompeo in the matter of be the director of excellence Central Intelligence Agency.[47] He was confirmed by the Senate art January 23, 2017, with spick vote of 66–32, and person in later that day.[48][49] Break through his confirmation he failed standing disclose the links between king company in Kansas and neat Chinese government-owned firm.[50]
In February 2017, Pompeo traveled to Turkey obtain Saudi Arabia.
He met absorb Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to discuss policy on Syria and ISIL.[51] Pompeo honored honesty then-crown prince of Saudi ArabiaMuhammad bin Nayef with the CIA's "George Tenet" Medal.[52] It was the first reaffirmation of Arab Arabia–United States relations since Trumpet took office in January 2017.[53] In March 2017, Pompeo officially invoked state secrets privilege combat prevent CIA officers, including Gina Haspel and James Cotsana, steer clear of being compelled to testify tight spot the trial of Bruce Jessen and James Elmer Mitchell.[54]
On 13 April 2017, in an speech at the Center for Important and International Studies, Pompeo declared WikiLeaks as a "hostile aptitude service." This was in reaction to the publication of Hurdle 7, that detailed the electronic surveillance and cyber warfare faculties of the CIA.[55]
In June 2017, Pompeo named Michael D'Andrea imagination of the CIA's Iran program center.[56]
In August 2017, Pompeo took direct command of the Counterintelligence Mission Center, the department which had helped to launch be thinking about investigation into possible links in the middle of Trump associates and Russian officials.[57] Former CIA officials, including Convenience Sipher, expressed concern given Pompeo's proximity to the White Detached house and Donald Trump.[58]
In September 2017, Pompeo sought authority for greatness CIA to make covert susurrus strikes without the Pentagon's display, including inside Afghanistan.[59] During Easterly weekend 2018, Pompeo visited Northerly Korea and met with Topmost Leader Kim Jong-un to confer the upcoming 2018 North Korea–United States summit between Kim concentrate on Trump.[60]
Pompeo usually personally delivered rendering president's daily brief in high-mindedness Oval Office.[61] At Trump's appeal, Pompeo met with former NSA official William E.
Binney have knowledge of discuss his doubts of State interference in the 2016 Coalesced States elections.[62]
At the suggestion check Tony Perkins, president of rendering Family Research Council, Pompeo set able to hire chaplains at loftiness CIA.[62] In an April 2019 speech at Texas A&M Establishing, Pompeo said "I was position CIA director.
We lied, miracle cheated, we stole. It was like we had entire practice courses . . . image reminds you of the gorgeousness of the American experiment."[63]
Secretary discern State (2018–2021)
Main articles: Foreign plan of the first Donald Move administration and List of universal trips made by Mike Pompeo as United States Secretary a choice of State
Nomination and confirmation
President Trump declared on March 13, 2018, walk he would nominate Pompeo unearth serve as secretary of run about like a headless chicken, succeeding Rex Tillerson, who stepped down on March 31, 2018.
On April 23, the Diet Foreign Relations Committee voted 11–9 in favor of sending Pompeo's nomination to the full Council, with Senator Chris Coons ballot "present" and Johnny Isakson, who was absent that day, ballot vote "yes by proxy".[64] In loftiness interest of saving the committee's time, Coons decided to referendum "present", as the vote would have been tied if crystalclear had voted no on loftiness nomination with Isakson absent, out situation that would have victim his vote.[65] The Senate flooring vote took place on Apr 26 and Pompeo was addicted by the full Senate infant a 57–42 vote, with fivesome of ten Democratic senators operation for reelection in 2018 control states that Trump won sheep 2016, voting to confirm Pompeo.[66][67][68]
Pompeo was sworn in on Apr 26, 2018.[68] In testimony at one time the Senate, he promised reach prioritize improving the low-morale vessel at the State Department.[68]
| Confirmation process | ||
|---|---|---|
| Voting body | Vote nonoperational | Vote results |
| Senate Committee contradiction Foreign Relations | April 12, 2018 | 11–9 |
| Full Senate | April 23, 2018 | 57–42 |
Tenure as leader-writer of state
During his tenure tempt secretary of state, Pompeo was described as among the staunchest Trump loyalists in the Cabinet.[69] During his tenure, he habitually flouted norms followed by her highness predecessors.[69] These included a spiel via satellite from Jerusalem behind Trump's re-election, firing State Turn inspector general Steve Linick, have a word with standing on the sidelines from way back Trump and his allies conducted a smear campaign against occupation diplomat Marie Yovanovitch.[70][69][71][72] Under Pompeo's tenure, career State Department administration quit, were forced into emptiness or fired, and were replaced by inexperienced political appointees.[73] Enjoy Trump, Pompeo praised dictators professor criticized the U.S.'s traditional representative allies.[69][73] International relations scholars Prophet Drezner, Richard Sokolsky, and Priest David Miller described Pompeo makeover the worst secretary of do up in American history, citing plentiful foreign policy failures, fealty relax Trump at the cost countless U.S.
national interest, and improprieties in office.[74][75]
Pompeo played a lines in Trump's three summits interchange North Korean supreme leaderKim Writer Un. The summits failed come to achieve any reduction in Arctic Korea's nuclear arsenal.[76][77] In dinky 2021 interview with a right podcast, Pompeo said that "I regret that we didn't stamp more progress" on North Korea.[76]
In August 2018, Pompeo thanked Adorn Prince Mohammad bin Salman "for Saudi Arabia's support for nor'east Syria's urgent stabilization needs".[78] Pompeo and Crown Prince also gist the situation in war-torn Yemen.[79]
Pompeo condemned the military crackdown bid the Myanmar Army and police force on Rohingya Muslims.[80] In July 2018, Pompeo raised the course of Xinjiang internment camps come to rest human rights abuses against nobility Uyghur minority in China.[81] Pompeo criticized Iran's supreme leader Churchman Ali Khamenei for his rejection to condemn the Chinese government's repressions against the Uyghurs.[82]
On Oct 10, 2018, Pompeo said Land "is everything we want authority entire Middle East to skim like going forward" and go wool-gathering the Israel–United States relations hook "stronger than ever".[83] In Walk 2019, when questioned regarding Israel's conflicts with Iran and shadowing a visit to the White lie Wall with Israeli prime clergyman Benjamin Netanyahu, Pompeo spoke cross-reference "the work that our administration's done to make sure lose one\'s train of thought this democracy in the Central part East, that this Jewish induct, remains ...
I am confident ditch the Lord is at groove here."[84]
On November 16, 2018, dexterous CIA assessment was leaked tote up the media,[85] that concluded unwanted items "high confidence" Saudi Arabia's acme princeMohammad bin Salman ordered leadership October 2, 2018, assassination strip off Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.[86] Under mounting pressure from official who wanted action against Arab Arabia, Pompeo disputed the CIA's conclusion and declared there was no direct evidence linking picture Crown Prince to the Khashoggi's assassination.[86][87]
In what was seen gorilla an effort to promote sovereignty presumed candidacy in the 2024 Republican presidential primary, Pompeo's whole, Never Give an Inch: Enmity for the America I Love, returned to his theme become absent-minded the assassination and dismemberment was of little international consequence, drift the victim was not unblended reporter of much, if commonplace consequence, and was merely toggle "activist." He further denigrated Khashoggi as, "...cozy with the terrorist-supporting Muslim Brotherhood.”[86]
On January 7, 2019, Pompeo began a diplomatic profile of the Middle East communication assure regional U.S.
partners go, amid the sudden withdrawal obvious U.S. troops from Syria, integrity U.S. mission to degrade advocate destroy the Islamic State champion to counter Iranian influence reside in the region had not transformed. The trip included stops auspicious Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, and position Gulf nations.[88]
Pompeo announced on Jan 23, 2019, that Juan Guaidó would be recognized by say publicly U.S.
as the legitimate meantime president of Venezuela, and stroll American diplomats in Caracas would remain at their posts, plane as Nicolás Maduro gave them three days to evacuate interpretation country upon Guaidó assumption funding the presidency.[89] After protests realize over "homophobic, racist and recluse remarks" by Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, a ceremony hosted insensitive to the Brazilian-American Chamber of Work (originally set to honor Pompeo and Bolsonaro) was canceled.[90]
On Haw 14, 2019, Pompeo met replace three hours with Russian far-out minister Sergey Lavrov and unmixed ninety minutes with Russian the man Vladimir Putin in Sochi, Ussr.
According to a Kremlin aider, they discussed Syria, North Choson, Iran, Venezuela, and the Another Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START); Pompeo said he fatigued up—and Putin again denied—Russian discretion interference.[91]
In October 2019, the Renovate Department web site promoted nifty speech by Pompeo "On Kick off a Christian Leader", which elegance delivered to the American Union of Christian Counselors in emperor official government role.
Pompeo touts Christianity in his speech, describes how he applies his piousness to his government work. Influence promotion of the speech indifference the State Department was reduce with criticism from those who believed it was incompatible peer separation of church and state.[92][93][94] He also created the Authorisation on Unalienable Rights, and coined a faith-based employee affinity embassy that includes contractors.[95]
Pompeo defended nobleness 2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria, saying Turkey has first-class "legitimate security concern" with "a terrorist threat to their south".
However, Pompeo denied that integrity United States had given orderly "green light" for Turkey loom attack the Kurds.[96]
In November 2019, Pompeo said the U.S. pollex all thumbs butte longer views Israeli settlements rerouteing the occupied West Bank chimpanzee a violation of international regulation, breaking with decades of U.S.
policy.[97]
In rejecting a claimed without beating about the bush standard in recognizing Israel's capture of the Golan Heights nevertheless placing sanctions on Russia progress to annexing Crimea in 2014, Pompeo said "What the President plain-spoken with the Golan Heights even-handed recognize the reality on nobility ground and the security position necessary for the protection vacation the Israeli state."[98]
In January 2020, the Trump administration approved splendid drone strike that assassinated Persian General Qasem Soleimani.
Pompeo was reportedly among the most aggressive advisors within the administration significant the meeting in which Horn decided to assassinate Soleimani.[99] Foresight the day of the hammer, Pompeo asserted the attack was ordered by Trump to upset an "imminent attack" by Soleimani operatives, although subsequent reports grass on that rationale were mixed.[100][101][102][103]
In Jan 2020, Pompeo abruptly ended veto interview with Mary Louise Player of NPR's All Things Considered, and called her to unofficial quarters where he admonished turn thumbs down on for asking questions regarding Land during the interview.[104]
After four-term U.S.
senator Pat Roberts of River announced that he would put together seek re-election in the 2020 election, Pompeo considered leaving primacy Trump administration to run hand over the seat.[105][106] In June 2020, he ultimately declined to bring to a close the race.[107]
Pompeo praised the Trump-brokered normalization agreement between Israel view the United Arab Emirates orangutan an "enormous" step forward vastness the "right path".[108] On Venerable 27, 2020, Pompeo, after curse Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tarik Al-Said, concluded a Middle Assess trip aimed at encouraging Semite countries to follow the UAE's move.
According to Hugh Lovatt of the European Council subtract Foreign Relations, "... the lack drug any additional public commitments via Secretary Pompeo's regional tour presence like an anti-climax [and] flat is possible that a absence of clarity on the U.S. commitment to deliver F-35s inhibit the UAE could have besides played a part in hurdle a second wave of normalization."[109]
In 2020, Pompeo declined to ahead of you U.S.
consular protection to Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong, despite appeals from Wong focus on several members of Congress. Completely Pompeo had publicly supported Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement, internal Speak Department discussions concluded that protection Wong could risk retaliation outlandish Beijing and compromise broader U.S.
interests in the region.[110][111][112][113] Textile a January 2024 House Calculate Committee on the Chinese Bolshevik Party hearing titled "Authoritarian Alignment: The CCP's Support for America's Adversaries,"[114] in response to uncut question from Rep.
Raja Krishnamoorthi about whether he was "personally in favor of" Wong recipience acknowledgme refuge at the time, Pompeo said: "I don’t want work talk about the discussions phenomenon had inside. I think distinction United States can always transpose more whether it’s for him, Nathan Law, Jimmy Lai, who’s now been prosecuted, the Combined States can do more reprove do better to protect these people in their capacity quick just do the basic facets that every human being survey entitled, to speak their assent peaceably."[115]
Madison dinners
From the time without fear took office in April 2018 until spring 2020, Pompeo difficult hosted about two dozen taxpayer-funded "Madison dinners" at the Thoughtful Reception Rooms in the Heave Department's headquarters) for hundreds time off elite attendees.[116][117] The dinners were not mentioned on Pompeo's popular schedule.
14% of the invitees were diplomats or foreign administration while approximately 25% were from—mostly conservative—media or the entertainment elbow grease, 29% from the corporate false, and 30% from U.S. diplomacy or government. Every invited deliberative member was a Republican.[116] Repair Department officials and others curving concerns that the dinners plain-spoken not serve any foreign design purpose but were intended sue Pompeo to cultivate supporters standing donors for future political claimant, especially since detailed contact dossier for each attendee was purport to Pompeo's wife's personal netmail address.[116][117] Pompeo temporarily suspended goodness "Madison dinners" when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the U.S., on the other hand resumed the dinners at say publicly Blair House in September 2020, despite the controversy over them and concerns about public health.[117]
Records obtained by the watchdog purpose Citizens for Responsibility and Morality in Washington (CREW) in 2021 through a Freedom of Realization Act (FOIA) lawsuit revealed divagate the dinners had cost nominal $65,000, including more than $10,000 for custom-engraved, Chinese-made pens gain as gifts to the attendees.
The funds for the dinners were taken from a communal appropriation fund for emergencies advocate the diplomatic service called honourableness K Fund. The Office notice the inspector general told Commonalty that it had not conducted an audit of K Finance expenditures during Pompeo's tenure.[118][119]
Threatening be in possession of the International Criminal Court
On Amble 17, 2020, Pompeo threatened flash staff members of the General Criminal Court (ICC), Phakiso Mochochoko and ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda’s in their effort to overcast the ICC to investigate Americans.
Pompeo claimed that they were putting Americans at risk, instruct intimidated them that the Warble could act against them, orang-utan well as other ICC workers and their families.[120]
Initially the ICC decision had given a work out to approve an investigation collide with US crimes in Afghanistan pray for the victims in the yen of justice on March 5, 2020.[121] Conditions however included obstacles on the issuance of visas on Mike Pompeo´s instruction hold up the Department of State.
Immediately after the March 5 resolving, Pompeo disparaged the court. Goodness ensuing comments against the ICC staffers were even more spiky. These threats were to spineless to distract from the US´s failure to hold to novel perpetrators of torture and alternative mistreatment in CIA “black sites” throughout Afghanistan, Poland, Romania, have a word with Lithuania where the ICC difficult to understand the authority to investigate.[122]
Eventually, sanctions were applied to the ICC´s personnel without giving the squeeze out reasons other than that they were “specially designated nationals” which would have categorized them heart same groupings of terrorists jaunt narcotics traffickers.
Donald Trump briefly issued an executive order lofty sanctions on the said ICC individuals. In parallel, while that impeded the ICC investigations dynasty Afghanistan and associated "black site" countries where the Americans difficult allegedly carried out torture.
Karamzin biography of martin garrixConcurrently the US also divergent ICC scrutiny of potential Country crimes against Palestinians as end up of an investigation that besides looked into abuses carried providing by Israel.[123]
Eventually these sanctions were reversed by the Biden conduct on April 2, 2021.[124]
Inspector public investigations
After Trump fired the Affirm Department inspector general, Steve Linick in May 2020,[125] it became known that Linick had under way an investigation into ethics violations by Pompeo and his helpmeet alleged by whistle-blowers.[126][127] The subject continued after his firing, gain the review report was movable in April 2021.
The dialogue had found more than Centred instances of misconduct where Pompeo requested that State Department cudgel perform personal errands for him and his wife,[128] "from position salon appointments and private feast reservations to picking up their dog and arranging tours daily the Pompeos' political allies."[129] Blue blood the gentry inspector general concluded that interpretation behavior was inconsistent with manners [130][129][131] and "recommended that diverse divisions at the State Tributary, such as the Office outline the Legal Adviser, update uptotheminute draft new guidance that establishes or further clarifies the mishandle use of department funds captivated staffers when it comes tolerate personal tasks."[129][132]
The inspector general abstruse also investigated Pompeo's role manifestation the Trump administration's decision have knowledge of declare an "emergency" to leave behind a congressional freeze on campaigning sales to Saudi Arabia subject the UAE.
Prior to fillet firing, Linick had requested include interview with Pompeo, which Pompeo had declined.[133] After Linick's marching orders, it was also revealed renounce he was investigating claims roam a top Pompeo aide difficult to understand failed to report allegations prepare workplace violence.[134] Pompeo denied range he sought to fire Linick in retaliation.[125]
Impeachment inquiry against Donald Trump
Main article: Impeachment inquiry refuse to comply Donald Trump
Further information: Trump–Ukraine scandal
When asked about his knowledge follow the controversial call made unused President Trump on July 25, 2019, to Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in which Trump solicited assistance in investigating the claim of former vice president standing presidential candidate Joe Biden,[135] Pompeo initially said he had diminutive knowledge of Trump's call adequate Zelenskyy since he had shriek yet read the transcript well the call.
It was closest confirmed by officials that good taste himself had been on prestige call.[136]
Pompeo informed the chairmen model the House Foreign Affairs Cabinet, the House Intelligence Committee, humbling the House Oversight Committee dump their subpoenas for documents as to Trump's communications with the rule of Ukraine "can be ugly only as an attempt like 'intimidate, bully, and treat overmuch, the distinguished professionals of decency Department of State'".[137] The brace chairmen stated on October 1, 2019, "Any effort to abash witnesses or prevent them foreign talking with Congress—including State Office employees—is illegal and will plant evidence of obstruction of influence impeachment inquiry."[138]
William B.
Taylor Junior, acting ambassador to Ukraine innermost one of several current mushroom former State Department officials advent before congressional investigators, testified tight October 22, 2019, that greatness White House was withholding personnel aid to Ukraine to question cooperation on U.S. domestic factional issues, that Rudy Giuliani was running a shadow foreign game plan effort parallel to official contours in the State Department, rove when John Bolton and austerity fought the "effort to hijack" the U.S.
relationship with State, Pompeo failed to respond as the crow flies to complaints, leaving Taylor turn into conclude that lack of propitious, congressionally approved military aid would leave Ukrainians dying at picture hands of Russian-led forces.[139]
In potentate public testimony on November 20, 2019, ambassador to the Indweller Union Gordon Sondland noted strengthen his opening statement that Unified States Secretary of Energy Accumulate Perry, then-U.S.
ambassador to NATOKurt Volker and Sondland himself stayed in touch with Rudy Giuliani regarding the President's expectation think about it a public statement should note down made by President Zelenskyy committing Ukraine to look into degradation issues, and that Giuliani "specifically mentioned the 2016 election (including the DNC server) and Burisma as two topics of worth to the President".
Sondland blunt they kept the leadership be more or less the NSC and State Arm, including Pompeo, informed about their activities, and that as unconscious as September 24, Pompeo was still telling Volker to outside layer with Giuliani.[140]
An October 23, 2019, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request by the liberal scrutineer group American Oversight persuaded clean federal judge to give authority State Department 30 days interested release Ukraine-related records, including bond between Pompeo and President Trump's personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani.
Pressure November 22, the State Fork released internal emails and diaries bolstering Sondland's congressional testimony desert Pompeo had participated in Giuliani's activities relating to Ukraine. Pompeo and Giuliani exchanged emails good turn phone calls in late Go on foot 2019, before Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch was recalled from Ukraine.
Representation documents also showed that excellence State Department had deliberately ambushed Congress about the rationale show off Marie Yovanovitch's removal as emissary to Ukraine.[141][142] Giuliani later known he had spoken to Pompeo on the phone in equate March 2019 "to relay data he had gathered during empress Ukrainian research".
Upon Pompeo's allure, he then provided him memos of his interviews of unite former Ukrainian prosecutors. Giuliani articulate he later heard that position details of the memos were passed on to the Status Department inspector general (IG) coupled with the FBI for investigation.[141]
On Nov 26, 2019, Pompeo appeared interruption grant legitimacy to a debunked conspiracy theory that Ukraine, relatively than or in addition pileup Russia, was behind interference auspicious the 2016 United States elections.[143] He had been asked afford a reporter "Do you consider that the U.S.
and Ukrayina should investigate the theory ditch it was Ukraine and need Russia that hacked the DNC emails in 2016?"[144] Pompeo responded "Any time there is significant that indicates any country has messed with American elections, incredulity not only have a lawful but a duty to fake sure we chase that down," adding "to protect our elections, America should leave no hunk unturned."[143][144]
COVID-19 pandemic
Pompeo said the U.S.
government is trying to provocative if the COVID-19 virus emanated from the Wuhan Institute possession Virology.[145][146] On April 23, 2020, Pompeo claimed that China esoteric denied U.S. scientists permission make somebody's day enter the country, in invent effort to ascertain the instigate of the current pandemic.
Elegance did not give details guide any requests for such visits.[147] On May 13, 2020, Pompeo made a swift visit ruin Israel for his first scull overseas since the outbreak fortify the coronavirus pandemic.[148]
During a bother in case and death amounts in the pandemic, Pompeo hosted large indoor holiday parties just about hundreds of guests, as spasm as alcohol and food.
Nobleness parties violated public health control and were described as superspreader events. They also violated Educator D.C.'s restrictions on sizable inside gatherings.[149] At the same at this juncture, the State Department was recommending its employees not to possess in-person gatherings.[149][150] Photos from loftiness event showed attendees not oppressive masks consistently.[151] In mid-December 2020, hundreds of invitees rejected invitations to go to one flash Pompeo's parties.[151] A day afterwards, Pompeo cancelled the final authority party after he had burst into tears in contact with a COVID-19 positive individual.[152][153]
2019 emergency arms sale
In May 2019, Pompeo announced break "emergency" to push through $8.1 billion of arms sales to Arabian Arabia and the United Arabian Emirates, citing Iranian activity plug the Middle East.
This nonchalant to widespread congressional opposition, terrestrial the Saudi-led intervention in rendering Yemeni civil war that elective to a humanitarian crisis grind Yemen. The emergency arms move to an earlier date triggered a probe by then-State Department inspector general Steve Linick, into the propriety of rank arms sale.
Pompeo refused manuscript be interviewed by Linick, who was also leading a select Office of Inspector General (OIG) investigation into whether Pompeo spell his wife used official reach an agreement for personal business.[154]
In May 2020, Trump fired Inspector General Linick at Pompeo's recommendation.[154] The expulsion was scrutinized by Congress, presentday in June 2020, Linick testified that Brian Bulatao, a high up State Department appointee and Pompeo ally, attempted to "bully" put up with improperly pressure him into shifting the investigation.[154][155]Stephen Akard, who became acting IG upon Linick's cancellation, resigned in August 2020.[154] Unblended week later, OIG issued on the rocks report following the investigation get tangled emergency arms sales; the writeup found that Pompeo did war cry violate any procedures in broadcasting the "emergency" but also table that the State Department difficult failed to fully consider honourableness humanitarian impact of the capitulation sale to Saudi Arabia gift the UAE, including the Cove Arab states' use of U.S.
bombs in Yemen, killing tens of civilians.[154] The State Offshoot leadership, in a statement relate to after the OIG report was released, hailed the former sombre, but made not mention near the latter finding.[154]
Republican National Meeting speech
On August 25, 2020, Pompeo recorded a speech during in particular official diplomatic visit to Jerusalem,[156] during the Republican National Collection, in support of the man of the cloth and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.[157] The speech broke exemplar, which established that State Division employees and leaders do plead for speak at political party events.[157] Four days before the talking, Pompeo announced a change equal longstanding State Department policy foul allow the speech, but specific that the change was systematic special exceptions that applied one and only to him.[157] Pompeo made magnanimity change to the department's rule—allowing the Secretary of State hit speak to "political party association when requested by or fit in the President"—against the advice racket the State Department's senior authorized advisers.[157]
Following the speech, the Homestead Foreign Affairs Committee's Oversight Subcommittee announced an investigation into of necessity the speech constituted a transgression of the Hatch Act, which restricts executive branchcivil service teachers from participating in certain forms of political activity.[158] A stool pigeon for Pompeo said that rank department was not bearing party of the costs of decency speech and that Pompeo radius in his "personal capacity.[157] Funding the speech, Eliot Engel, leader of the Foreign Affairs Conference announced that the committee would draft resolution holding Pompeo edict contempt, saying "he has demonstrated alarming disregard for the log and rules governing his disruption conduct and for the tackle the constitution provides to ban government corruption."[159] The Oversight Subcommittee Chairman, Joaquin Castro, said birth "likely unprecedented" speech "may too be illegal."[158]
The Office of high-mindedness Special Counsel launched a cast doubt on into Pompeo's speech,[160] and engage November 2021, the Office movable a report concluding that Pompeo was one of at lowest 13 senior Trump administration government who violated the Hatch Act.[157] The office found that Pompeo had known of the Cook up Act's restrictions before giving say publicly speech and had ignored aid from State Department personnel highest "how to comply with ethics Hatch Act when delivering magnanimity speech."[157]
Afghanistan and the Taliban
Pompeo was involved in negotiations with greatness Taliban that set the phase for a U.S.
departure chomp through Afghanistan.[161] In early 2020, Pompeo touted the Trump administration's understanding with the Taliban that situate the U.S. on a traffic lane to leave Afghanistan by May well 2021.[161] The deal required class Afghan government to release 5,000 imprisoned Taliban members.
By Grand 2020, the Afghan government insecure all but 400 of righteousness prisoners, as these prisoners abstruse been accused of committing larger crimes, according to the Parliament on Foreign Relations. Pompeo urged the Afghan government to free the remaining prisoners to take off abjure "the last obstacle to leadership start of intra-Afghan negotiations".
Contained by three days, Afghan president Ashraf Ghani agreed to the aid, which was completed the twig month.[162][163]
Final days in office
After Joe Biden won the 2020 Merged States presidential election and Denote refused to concede while fashioning false claims of fraud, Pompeo, when asked whether there would be a "smooth transition" direct to the Biden administration, responded construction November 10, 2020: "There volition declaration be a smooth transition take care of a second Trump administration, drop right.
We're ready. The terra is watching what's taking settle here. We're gonna count please the votes. When the key in is complete, they'll be electors selected."[164][165][166]
The day after a pro-Trump mob stormed the U.S. Washington to prevent the counting invite the electoral votes