Amid a watchdog office’s probe of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his wife for alleged “misuse of government resources,” three sources familiar with the situation told ABC News those allegations also involve the department’s chief of protocol and her office.
The little-known office is among the most important at the agency, managing diplomatic engagements like high-level visits, signing ceremonies and state dinners. But its chief, Cam Henderson, and her deputy, Mary-Kate Fisher, have been at the center of a probe by the department’s Office of Inspector General into allegations that Henderson’s predecessor harassed and intimidated staff.
ABC News obtained a copy of the OIG’s draft report, which has not yet been published. It found the two Trump appointees failed to create a safe working environment for employees, including tolerating verbally and physically abusive behavior by the previous chief of protocol.
But while the OIG recommended appropriate action be taken, the State Department, along with Henderson and Fisher, forcefully rejected its findings and questioned the watchdog’s integrity, according to the draft. Pompeo has similarly denied any misuse of government resources.
The draft report consists of two parts — the OIG’s findings, which were sent to Pompeo’s deputy Stephen Biegun on May 6, and the department’s emphatic denial, sent to the OIG on June 30.
It’s unclear why a final OIG report hasn’t been released since then. Steve Linick, the inspector general under whom the report was conducted, was fired in May by President Donald Trump at Pompeo’s request. A spokesperson for the OIG did not respond to questions.
“The Department’s leadership is extremely disappointed in the quality of work displayed in this memo from the IG’s office,” a State Department spokesperson told ABC News. “The Department has always had an appropriate and robust relationship with the IG’s office, but we care about getting it right and in this case, the IG’s office gravely and intentionally missed the mark. We expect future IG reports to be objective, comprehensive, professional, and appropriate. This memo from the IG’s office does not meet any of those requirements.”
While the department defends Henderson from the OIG’s findings, she and her office are at the center of a separate OIG probe into the Pompeos’ potential “misuse of government resources.” The three sources allege her office has been used for running personal errands, like designing and sending the Pompeos’ personal family Christmas card, as well as helping to arrange controversial dinners for elite guests using taxpayer funds.
Toni Porter, a top Pompeo aide, told congressional committees investigating Linick’s firing that she has been interviewed by the OIG about the Pompeos, according to transcripts published by the House Foreign Affairs and Oversight Committees on Sept. 11. Porter said she at times took “direction” from Susan Pompeo and arranged personal dinner reservations or travel for the couple.
During testimony last Wednesday, Brian Bulatao, a longtime Pompeo confidante who serves as under secretary for management, defended the use of staff to run the Pompeos’ personal errands — and he specifically said that he did so for the Pompeos, because that is the implication — even though federal regulations require that federal employees use their time for official duties and not request subordinates perform personal duties.
“What public employees choose to do on their own time, if it’s not violating their work matters or any other guidelines we placed out, would be up to them,” he told lawmakers about Porter’s role.
But the sources told…
Read More: State Dept. protocol office under scrutiny for alleged role in Pompeo’s use of