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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPompeo Hosted Ritzy Taxpayer-Funded Dinners With CEOs And GOP Power Players
By Cristina Cabrera
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May 20, 2020 10:08 a.m.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo held about two dozen private lavish soirees, known as Madison Dinners, with prominent political and corporate leaders using taxpayer funds, an NBC News investigation found.
Pompeo and his wife hosted the posh dinners in the Diplomatic Reception Rooms at the State Department beginning in 2018 up until March this year, when COVID-19 began shutting down the country. The affairs, paid for by State Departments Emergencies in the Diplomatic and Consular Service Appropriation fund, were slated to continue until at least October.
Invitees included Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch, Fox News hosts Laura Ingraham and Brian Kilmeade, American Conservative Union head Matt Schlapp and his wife Mercedes, GOP operative Karl Rove, and anti-abortion lobbyist Marjorie Dannenfelser of the Susan B. Anthony List. Various corporate executives, such as Raytheon CEO Thomas Kennedy and AOL co-founder Steve Case, were also invited.
Unnamed officials told NBC News that they were concerned that the dinners were serving as fundraiser-esque events with guest lists that Pompeo could use if he were to run for office.
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/pompeo-hosted-ritzy-taxpayer-funded-dinners-with-ceos-and-gop-power-players
Me.
(35,454 posts)turbinetree
(24,720 posts)The State Department special-ordered hundreds of each in 2018, the pens for $23.75 apiece and the journals for $8, officials said.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/pompeo-s-elite-taxpayer-funded-dinners-raise-new-concerns-n1210746
Me.
(35,454 posts)several hundred dollars per plate, likely pushing the total cost of the dinners to date into the six figures.
turbinetree
(24,720 posts)money is free speech thing.................
Grins
(7,228 posts)None of that should have happened, esp. in a government building, but most important is that Supreme Court Justices Strip-Search Sammy Alito and Neil Gorsuch should have NEVER been anywhere near that event!!
But I guess its IOKIYAR!
turbinetree
(24,720 posts)and they can even call in Ginni Thomas and her husband...........to have chat...............
Sneederbunk
(14,301 posts)UTUSN
(70,740 posts)Grins
(7,228 posts)Would that be the same Raytheon CEO Thomas Kennedy whose company would be a HUGE beneficiary of the $8-Billion arms sale to the Saudis?
The arms deal under investigation by the IG Pompeo had Trump (willingly) fire...? Just some dots that might need connecting.