Rubio tightens State Department oversight amid conflict concerns

Politics · First reported 7 Nov, 18:49 · Updated 19:25

Image: Wikimedia Commons · NASA Johnson Space Center · Public domain

Marco Rubio told senior State Department officials to avoid conflicts of interest and coordinate policy decisions, according to people familiar with a meeting last week. The meeting followed ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle’s resignation and came as Republicans considered their prospects after midterm losses.

Rubio told senior officials to stay within their responsibilities and avoid conflicts of interest.
The meeting preceded the Republican Party’s midterm losses and followed Kimberly Guilfoyle’s resignation as ambassador to Greece after reports raised concerns about access-for-benefit claims.
Accounts of the meeting included tighter coordination and approval requirements; Jeremy Lewin disputed that his departure was a firing or related to the meeting.

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Key facts

Official: Marco Rubio, U.S. secretary of state
Meeting: Held last week, before the Republican Party’s midterm losses
Guilfoyle resignation: She resigned as U.S. ambassador to Greece in mid-October
Lewin departure: Jeremy Lewin said he resigned to take a private-sector role and denied being fired
Department policy: The report says significant decisions required Rubio’s or Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau’s sign-off