State Department Allegations Called ‘Baseless’ By US Ambassador
A US ambassador has responded to a recent spate of State Department allegations from a leaked internal memo, calling them “baseless” and “devastating.”
As we reported earlier, an internal State Department memo leaked to the press shows that it’s not just high-level American privacy and press scandals the administration is coping with. They’re also apparently having trouble with some pretty basic stuff like prostitution and drug use.
The memo, published by CNN, details some seriously scandalous stuff happening among the staff under former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. For example: “An active U.S. ambassador ‘routinely ditched his protective security detail in order to solicit sexual favors from both prostitutes and minor children.'”
Even worse, it has been alleged that at least one investigation into the State Department allegations was shut down. Gee, that doesn’t sound familiar.
So of course, the very ambassador who is accused of prostitution and pedophilia thinks that these allegations are outrageous.
“I am angered and saddened by the baseless allegations that have appeared in the press,” he said, adding that seeing his career in the State Department “smeared is devastating.”
The ambassador is not being charged or convicted of any crime, and was not identified by ABC News.
A State Department spokesperson backed up the unnamed ambassador, arguing that “the notion that we would not vigorously pursue criminal misconduct in a case, in any case, is preposterous.”
Still, the memo has caught the attention of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Chairman Rep. Ed Royce has promised to look into the allegations.
“I am appalled not only at the reported misconduct itself, but at the reported interference in the investigations of the misconduct,” Royce said. “The notion that any or all of the cases contained in news reports would not be investigated thoroughly by the department is unthinkable.”
What do you think of the State Department allegations? Are they baseless, or could the department be covering up misconduct? Sound off!
[Image via: Frank Plitt]
