Pompeo Trashes Impeachment Inquiry, Says Benghazi Probe Was Fairer

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo attends a press conference after a meeting with Turkish President, in Ankara, Turkey, on October 17, 2019. (Photo by Adem ALTAN / AFP) (Photo by ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images)
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo attacked the House of Representatives’ impeachment inquiry in an interview with Politico on Friday, arguing that House Republicans’ probe of Benghazi treated the State Department better than Democrats’ current investigation.

“They’re not letting State Department lawyers in the room,” he told Politico. “They have not let State Department lawyers be part of these hearings.”

“That’s unheard of,” the secretary added. “I haven’t seen you all report that.”

Democrats have asserted that the House has the authority to not to have executive branch lawyers present for the hearings.

Then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was famously interviewed publicly for 11 hours as part of the Benghazi probe. Then-Congressman Pompeo sat on the select committee that investigated the matter. Pompeo, meanwhile, has not complied with a House subpoena for documents in the impeachment inquiry.

Despite Pompeo’s and the White House’s objections, multiple current and former State Department officials have testified in the impeachment probe.

When Politico asked about Rudy Giuliani, whose extracurricular diplomatic work has been the subject of several State Department officials’ testimony in the impeachment inquiry, Pompeo said “I have nothing to add.”

Asked about the officials who are testifying, Pompeo told Politico, “I hope they go to tell the truth.”

“I believe deeply in the process,” he added. “But you have to have a process that’s fair and reasonable.”

Latest News

Notable Replies

  1. I’m just happy Felicity Huffman is in jail–who cares about those who advance corruption through access to the Presidency.

  2. Avatar for tena tena says:

    god I hope this fat, pompous fool goes to jail.

  3. Criminal rages at inquiry over his crimes, news at 11.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

239 more replies

Participants

Avatar for valgalky23 Avatar for playitagainrowlf Avatar for fargo116 Avatar for cervantes Avatar for steviedee111 Avatar for george_spiggott Avatar for irasdad Avatar for juliagrey Avatar for sniffit Avatar for ralph_vonholst Avatar for ottnott Avatar for thebishop Avatar for esva Avatar for leftcoaster Avatar for ronbyers Avatar for khaaannn Avatar for tena Avatar for tsp Avatar for spencersmom Avatar for bankerpup Avatar for castor_troy Avatar for dannydorko Avatar for kenga Avatar for ldcolton

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: