Intel: Pompeo refused interview on Saudi arms sale investigation before firing Linick
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo refused to give an interview for State Department Inspector General Steve Linick’s investigation into a massive Saudi arms sale deal before asking President Donald Trump to fire the watchdog, Al-Monitor has learned.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo refused to give an interview for State Department Inspector General Steve Linick’s investigation into a massive Saudi arms sale deal before asking President Donald Trump to fire the watchdog, Al-Monitor has learned.
“We are aware that he refused to give an interview in the inquiry about the arms sales,” a Democratic aide on Capitol Hill told Al-Monitor.
Pompeo refused to disclose the reason he asked Trump to fire Linick during a press briefing today but denied that it was an act of retaliation over any investigations.
“I have no sense of what investigations were taking place inside the inspector general’s office,” Pompeo told reporters. “I’ve seen the various stories that someone was walking my dog to sell arms to my dry cleaner. It’s all just crazy.”
