 Mike Pompeo |
Hats off to Jersey Senator Bob Menendez for firing off a curt letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo after he went bonkers after an interview with respected NPR journalist Mary Louise Kelly.
The “All Things Considered” co-host questioned the Secretary and former Kansas Congressman for his failure to support then-Ukraine ambassador Marie Yovanovitch, whom Trump wanted taken out.
America’s top diplomat besmirched his office by shouting and swearing at Kelly. Making a bad situation worse, Pompeo undermined the dignity of the State Dept. website by posting a whiny statement about “how unhinged the media has become in its quest to hurt President Trump and this Administration.”
Suck it up, Mike. You’re not in Kansas anymore.
In his letter, Menendez expressed serious concerns about Pompeo’s official State Dept. statement.
“At a time when journalists around the world are being jailed for their reporting—and as in the case of Jamal Khashoggi, killed—your insulting and contemptuous comments are beneath the office of the Secretary of State.
"The importance of a free press is enshrined in our Constitution precisely because the Founders recognized how vital a free press is for the public to hold their government accountable.
"Instead of calling journalists ‘liars’ and insulting their intelligence when they ask you hard questions, you would rather not answer, your oath of office places on you a duty and obligation to engage respectfully and transparently.”
Menendez is the ranking member of the Senate foreign relations committee. Democratic Senators Tim Kaine (VA), Cory Booker (NJ), Ed Markey (MA) and Jeff Merkley (OR) co-signed the letter.
As for Pompeo, he privately dismissed allegations that Yovanovitch was corrupt as he carried out orders to recall her last May, according to the New York Times.
That may explain part of the reason why Pompeo went berserk with Kelly. Her questions cut close to Pompeo's bone and outed him as another Cabinet member kiss-up to Trump.
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