Report Contents
What OIG Reviewed
In response to a whistleblower complaint, OIG reviewed allegations that Department staff members were asked to complete tasks of a personal nature by U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo (the “Secretary”) and his spouse, Susan Pompeo (Mrs. Pompeo).
What OIG Recommends
OIG made three recommendations to the Department. OIG recommended that the Office of the Legal Adviser update its guidance to the Office of the Secretary to include guidance on the use of Department funds to pay for gifts to U.S. citizens and the use of Department employees to arrange personal dinners and entertainment. OIG recommended that the Bureau of Diplomatic Security amend its Protection Handbook to include examples of appropriate and inappropriate requests to agents performing protective functions, and direction concerning what to do when an agent is tasked with an inappropriate request and who to contact to address concerns. Finally, OIG recommended that the Under Secretary for Management draft and publish guidance on the use of a subordinate’s time for tasks of a personal nature, including direction concerning what to do and who to contact when a Department employee is tasked with an inappropriate request. The Department concurred with all three recommendations.
What OIG Found
OIG reviewed allegations that former U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo directed Department of State (Department) employees to carry out tasks of a personal nature to benefit him and Mrs. Pompeo. The allegations stated that the Secretary hired a political appointee to complete such tasks and assigned such work to other employees in the Office of the Secretary and the Bureau of Diplomatic Security.
OIG found that both Secretary and Mrs. Pompeo requested that the political appointee and other employees in the Office of the Secretary undertake work of a personal nature, 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. OIG found that such requests were inconsistent with Department ethics rules and the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch.
However, with only a few exceptions, OIG did not find that Secretary and Mrs. Pompeo made personal requests to the special agents in the Bureau of Diplomatic Security who were protecting them. These agents generally told OIG that the Pompeos did not ask them to undertake tasks of a personal nature.
Report Terms
Report Recommendations
The Office of the Legal Adviser should amend its exisiting ethics and travel guide to include written guidance as to whether it is appropriate to use Department funds for personal gifts to U.S. citizens and whether it is appropriate for Department employees to arrange personal dinners and entertainment for the Secretary of State.
The Bureau of Diplomatic Security should amend its Protection Handbook to include examples of appropriate and inappropriate requests to agents performing protective functions and direction concerning what to do and who to contact when the agent is tasked with a request that may be inappropriate.
The Under Secretary for Management should draft and publish guidance on the use of a subordinate’s time for tasks of a personal nature, including examples of appropriate vs. inappropriate requests and direction concerning what to do and who to contact when a Department employee is tasked with a request that may be inappropriate.