US: Democrat-led House launches contempt proceedings against Mike Pompeo

Democrat-led House Committee on Foreign Affairs on Friday, August 28 anunced that it will work on a resolution holding Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in contempt. House Rep. Eliot Engel, Chairman of Committee, said that refusal by Secretary Pompeo to comply with subpoena issued last month is one of reasons behind contempt resolution being drafted by Congressional committee. 

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Engel also slammed Republican leader for his RNC speech from Jerusalem, Israel, which is also being investigated by Foreign Affairs subpanel on oversight as critics allege that address was in violation of Hatch Act, which prevents government officials from participating in political activity while on official duty. 

Read: Castro: Pompeo's Speech An Example Of Corruption

"From Mr. Pompeo’s refusal to cooperate with impeachment inquiry to his willingness to bolster a Senate Republican-led smear against President’s political rivals to his speech to RNC which defied his own guidance and possibly law, he has demonstrated alarming disregard for laws and rules governing his own conduct and for tools constitution provides to prevent government corruption," Engel said in a press statement issued on Friday.

"He seems to think office he holds, Department he runs, personnel he oversees, and taxpayer dollars that pay for all of it are re for his personal and political benefit," he added. 

House Foreign Affairs Committee is seeking documents purportedly dealing with Joe Biden, his son Hunter Biden and Ukrainian energy company Burisma Holdings that State Department had already produced to Republican-led Senate committees.

Read: US Secy Pompeo Terms Israel As America's 'most Reliable Partner In Middle East'

'Political atrics' 

A State Department spokesperson on Friday said that Pompeo's office had previously offered to provide copies of records but had asked Committee to first submit a letter explaining what foreign policy issue it was investigating that requires se documents.

spokesperson said that once letter is received department is ready to produce documents. spokesperson furr dubbed contempt proceedings as 'political atrics' ahead of upcoming presidential poll. 

(Im Credit: AP)

Read: Pompeo's Jerusalem Speech Violated Hatch Act, Complaint Says