Under fire for his decision to speak at the Republican National Convention, Secretary of StateĀ Mike PompeoĀ 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.
āAll I can say in my role as secretary of state, I did this in my personal capacity,ā Pompeo said, adding, āThe State Department reviewed this and it was lawful.ā
He said, āAnd I personally felt it was important that the world hear the message of what this administration has accomplished,ā 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.
The Biden campaign also released a statement claiming that Pompeoās speech āundermines the critical work being done by the State Department.ā
āMaking this inherently partisan address from Jerusalem is also the latest instance of this administration seeking to use Israel as a political wedge issue,ā the statement added.
Additionally, the House Foreign Affairs Committeeās Twitter account shared a portion of State Department guidelines that read, āSenate-confirmed Presidential appointees may not even attend a political party convention or convention-related event.ā
The decision to deliver a speech alsoĀ factoredĀ into Rep. Eliot Engelās (D-N.Y.), the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, decision to launch contempt proceedings against Pompeo.