As Mike Pompeo prepared to tour the Middle East last year, senior State Department officials debated whether they could legally justify his wife Susan’s desire to travel with him
As Secretary of State Mike Pompeo prepared to tour the Middle East last year, senior State Department officials debated whether they could legally justify his wife Susan’s desire to travel with him.
Despite the Middle East bureau’s stated reservations, the memo, labeled as “sensitive but unclassified,” recommends that Susan Pompeo’s travel be approved and partially paid for by government funds. It was not clear if then-Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan, to whom the memo was addressed, formally signed off or not. Either way, Susan Pompeo went on the trip with her husband.
“As the secretary already explained to Politico,“ the spokesperson said, “Mrs. Pompeo provides tremendous lift to our diplomatic mission by meeting with spouses of new foreign service officers, speaking to families headed overseas for first time assignments, and making sure that foreign diplomats and their spouses are always treated with kindness and warmth, reflecting the finest tradition of America.
Foreign Service experts say there’s no clear budget line in appropriations bills to cover the expenses of the spouse of a secretary of State. Lawyers who helped draft the memo, however, noted that there are provisions that allow for U.S. funds to be used when a secretary’s family member acts in a “representational” capacity, and that Susan Pompeo’s stops in Cairo and Abu Dhabi would qualify.
The memo delves deep into what portions of Susan Pompeo’s trip taxpayers would cover – essentially, the costs related to Abu Dhabi and Cairo were largely. But it also makes clear the Pompeos must personally pay for several other pieces of Susan Pompeo’s trip.past POLITICO requestsSome former top department officials who reviewed the memo at POLITICO’s request were most struck by the carefully calibrated sentences from the Middle East bureau.
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