State Dept Official Resigns Amid Accusations He Carried A Whip Around The Office

The US Department of State logo is displayed inside the media briefing room 01 November 2007 at the US Department of State in Washington, DC. AFP PHOTO/Paul J. Richards (Photo credit should read PAUL J. RICHARDS/A... The US Department of State logo is displayed inside the media briefing room 01 November 2007 at the US Department of State in Washington, DC. AFP PHOTO/Paul J. Richards (Photo credit should read PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

A Trump administration official who’s in charge of protocol decisions on foreign soil resigned abruptly just before President Trump’s visit to Japan, Bloomberg News reported.

State Department Chief of Protocol Sean Lawler’s resignation comes amid accusations that he intimidated employees and carried a whip around the office, a person familiar with the matter told Bloomberg. The department’s inspector general may open a probe into the accusations, according to Bloomberg.

President Trump likely won’t bat an eye over the resignation. According to the people who spoke to Bloomberg, Trump doesn’t like Lawler and has “repeatedly asked why he still worked at the White House,” in Bloomberg’s words.

Lawler’s role is confirmed by the U.S. Senate and his responsibilities are considered  similar to those of an ambassador.

Notable Replies

  1. “This guy should be promoted”, Trump said. “I wanted to fire him until I heard he used a whip. He’s my kind of guy,”Trump said with a wink.

  2. When A Riding Crop Just Won’t Do

    Why do I think he has a friend named Lindsey?

    Yahoo Sean Lawler, former master chief petty officer

  3. “Lindsey likes dressing as Little Bo Peep”.

  4. Obviously, he was in charge of employee morale and enforcing the Hair Furor loyalty pledge.

  5. I know that there are all kinds of unsavory people , you know DICKS ! A whip to intimidate employees !! Really ? How come these kind of people always seem to gravitate into the Republican party.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

52 more replies

Participants

Avatar for sysprog Avatar for old_curmudgeon Avatar for blandsten Avatar for navamske Avatar for enon Avatar for george_spiggott Avatar for wombat Avatar for chelsea530 Avatar for bonvivant Avatar for pippenpippen Avatar for serendipitoussomnambulist Avatar for mrf Avatar for docd Avatar for rickjones Avatar for noonm Avatar for tiowally Avatar for michaelryerson Avatar for nycabj Avatar for maximus Avatar for demosthenes59 Avatar for 10c Avatar for zillacop Avatar for rascal_crone Avatar for bunnyvelour

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: