Pompeo Defends Delivering Speech at Republican National Convention
Under fire for his decision to speak at the Republican National Convention, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says his department determined it was lawful for him to deliver an address at the event. During a press…
Under fire for his decision to speak at the Republican National Convention, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says his department determined it was lawful for him to deliver an address at the event.
During a press conference on Wednesday, Pompeo was pressed about the speech by a reporter who noted that previously released State Department guidelines prohibit Senate-confirmed officials from participating in political activities.
“All I can say in my role as secretary of state, I did this in my personal capacity,” Pompeo said, adding, “The State Department reviewed this and it was lawful.”
He said, “And I personally felt it was important that the world hear the message of what this administration has accomplished,” he said.
Watch the video below (starting at 7:30):
Pompeo delivered a pre-recorded speech to the convention that was filmed while he was in Jerusalem, Israel, on an official business trip. The decision stirred up controversy, with some noting that previous sitting secretaries of state have not spoken at political conventions while serving.