The U.S. State Department's internal watchdog has found that former State Secretary Mike Pompeo and his wife violated federal ethics rules by asking department employees to perform personal tasks like making restaurant and salon reservations and picking up and caring for their dog, the Associated Press reported on Saturday.
"The Pompeos made over 100 requests to staffers in the office of the secretary to conduct work that appeared to be personal in nature," the report from the inspector general said.
According to the inspector general, those requests were "inconsistent" with regulations. But, because Pompeo is no longer a member of the federal government and exempt from federal disciplinary actions, the department did not call for any disciplinary measure against him.
Pompeo served as state secretary until Jan. 20, when Republican Donald Trump left the office after losing to Democrat Joe Biden in the November U.S. presidential election. The report comes as the former State Secretary bankrolls a new political organization in the face of speculation about a possible presidential run in 2024.
Pompeo slammed the inspector general report, saying it was politically motivated and fraught with factual errors. In a statement, he said at no time, "did I, or my wife Susan, misuse taxpayer money or violate rules or ethical norms," Reuters reported.
In its response to the report, the State Department did not pass any judgment on the conclusions but did accept the recommendations.
"The poor quality of the report bespeaks not merely unprofessionalism in its drafting but also bias, which we are concerned may be politically motivated," William Burck, Pompeo's attorney, said in a response attached to the internal report.
During his tenure as state secretary, Pompeo had a contentious relationship with the department's watchdog. Steve Linick, a former inspector general, was terminated by Trump at Pompeo's recommendation.
