Pompeo to resume 'Madison Dinners' despite controversy

Source: Politico

They’ve been criticized by Democrats as a questionable use of taxpayer dollars, upset State Department employees skeptical of their diplomatic value, and postponed for months due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is bringing back the Madison Dinners anyway.

The gatherings are set to resume with a dinner Monday and at least three more during September and October, two State Department officials told POLITICO. Prior to the pandemic shelving them this past spring, roughly two dozen such dinners had been held since Pompeo became secretary of State in April 2018.

It’s not clear who’s been invited to the upcoming dinners, which previously were not listed on Pompeo’s public schedule and thus largely unknown to the public. The current guest lists are being closely guarded by a small group of State Department officials as well as by Pompeo’s wife, Susan, who is deeply involved in organizing the dinners.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/pompeo-to-resume-madison-dinners-despite-controversy/ar-BB18ZCF7?li=BBnb7Kz