Category Archives: SFRC
WH Withdraws Doug Manchester’s Nomination to be U.S. Ambassador to The Bahamas
On November 13, the White House formally withdrew its nomination of San Diego Developer “Papa” Doug Manchester to be Ambassador to The Bahamaas. The Nassau Guardian reported in late October that Mr. Manchester “has stepped back from his bid to become the United States ambassador for The Bahamas.” The report said that when reached for comment, Manchester Financial Group wrote in a statement, “He has withdrawn due to the threats on his and his family’s lives including three infant children under four years old.” The report also said: “It also noted that Manchester had received “severe” threats on his life.”
The report does not include details on who made these threats against the nominee and if there is an ongoing investigation concerning these threats.
In related news, the US Embassy in Nassau recently broke ground on a new U.S. Embassy in downtown Nassau. The new facility will reportedly “provide a secure, modern, and resilient platform for U.S. diplomacy in The Bahamas. Its central location will facilitate our partnership with the Bahamian government as well as support to U.S. citizens living and traveling here.” The project is expected to be completed in 2023.
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Related posts:
- U.S. Embassy Nassau: Aging Facility, Staffing Gaps, Curtailments, Morale Issues, and More in Sunny Bahamas Aug 2019
- White House Submits Some @StateDept/Related Agencies Re-nominations to the Senate Jan 2019
- Senate Returns @StateDept Nominations to the President Jan 2019
- @StateDept Nominations: Pending in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee as of December 31, 2018 Jan 2019
- Senate on Recess, See Pending @StateDept Nominations (as of August 4, 2018) Aug 2018
- Trump Renominates Nominee Who Believes The Bahamas Is … Um, a U.S. Protectorate Jan 2018
- White House Sends @StateDept Renominations to the Senate Jan 2018
- Senate Requires the Renomination of @StateDept Nominees Stalled in 2017 Jan 2018
- SFRC Clears 23 @StateDept Nominations, Including 18 Ambassador Nominees and One FS List Oct 2017
- SFRC Clears Bass (AFG), Manchester (Bahamas), King (Czech), McFarland (Singapore), Gingrich (Holy See), and More Sept 2017
- Trump to Nominate San Diego Developer “Papa” Doug Manchester to be Ambassador to The Bahamas (May 2017)
American businessman and billionaire Doug Manchester has stepped back from his bid to become the United States ambassador for The Bahamas. https://t.co/TpU4Driqva
— Nassau Guardian (@GuardianNassau) October 31, 2019
Manchester said last month he would withdraw his name from consideration after threats against his life and his family's, including three infant children under four years old https://t.co/6ITP3wlccA
— Robbie Gramer (@RobbieGramer) November 13, 2019
Two and a half years after nominating Doug Manchester to be Ambassador to Bahamas, WH officially withdraws Trump donor and real estate magnate's nomination amid allegations of sexual harassment, bad management style, lack of qualifications
More on him: https://t.co/5gTc7Eyr74 pic.twitter.com/shVzqIpmK6
— Conor Finnegan (@cjf39) November 13, 2019
SFRC Ranking Member Menendez Calls For OSC Hatch Act Review Into Pompeo’s Kansas Travel
On October 29, the Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), sent a letter to the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC), requesting a review to determine whether Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has violated the Hatch Act, a federal law passed in 1939, which limits certain political activities of federal employees. According to OSC, the law’s purposes are “to ensure that federal programs are administered in a nonpartisan fashion, to protect federal employees from political coercion in the workplace, and to ensure that federal employees are advanced based on merit and not based on political affiliation.”
I write to request an immediate review and assessment of the Secretary of State’s compliance with the Hatch Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 7321-7326.
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Since March 2019, the Secretary has taken three official trips to Kansas, apparently at the expense of the Department of State. During the latest trip, from October 24 to 25, 2019, the Secretary visited the Wichita State University Tech National Center for Aviation Training, participated in a workforce development roundtable, visited Textron Aviation Longitude and Latitude Production, and met with students from Wichita State University.
In an interview, he refused to discuss matters related to Ukraine, insisting he was “here today to talk about workforce development. I came here today to talk about the great things that are going on here in Kansas.” The events in Kansas were aimed largely at promoting the President’s “Pledge to American Workers,” which has no discernible relation to the Department of State. According to The Wall Street Journal, he also “discussed the U.S. Senate race in Kansas” with Charles Koch, the head of Koch Industries, and former top contributor to his political campaigns, as well as backer of Pompeo’s prior business. Textron Inc., the parent company of Textron Aviation, was also a major contributor to then-Congressman Pompeo’s political campaigns.
For months, public reports have persisted that the Secretary was considering running for U.S. Senate in Kansas. Many in Kansas perceive his appearances in the state to be a de facto campaign effort. Indeed, an October 25, 2019 Kansas City Star editorial titled “Mike Pompeo, either quit and run for U.S. Senate in Kansas or focus on your day job,” seems to indicate his actions are already being construed as evidence of a possible candidacy by members of the press and the public in Kansas. And following his trip, the Department of State’s official twitter handle posted a workforce and Kansas-centric video montage of the Secretary’s visit, which appears to have no nexus to the Department’s official work.
Secretary Pompeo is not any federal employee. Rather, he is one of the most prominent members of the President’s cabinet. He appears frequently on TV and for interviews, and, as is true for many Secretaries of State, is known and recognized by the American public. Thus, it is even more crucial that he and the Department maintain a clear line between his actions as a federal employee and steward of the U.S. government, and any efforts that could be perceived as political in nature or laying the groundwork for potential campaign activity. I therefore ask that you review his travel and his interactions in Kansas closely, and determine whether any violations have occurred or additional guidance to the Department or the Secretary may be warranted.
The full letter is available to read here.
This @KCStar editorial blasting Mike Pompeo is 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 https://t.co/AkajDfjGeJ
— Daniel W. Drezner (@dandrezner) October 25, 2019
SFRC Clears John Carwile, Erin McKee, Anthony Godfrey, Herro Mustafa, Andrew Bremberg
On September 18, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee cleared the following executive nominations. The next step would be confirmation by the full Senate.
John Leslie Carwile, of Maryland, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Latvia.
Erin Elizabeth McKee, of California, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Solomon Islands and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Vanuatu.
Anthony F. Godfrey, of Virginia, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Serbia
Herro Mustafa, of California, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Bulgaria
Andrew P. Bremberg, of Virginia, to be Representative of the United States of America to the Office of the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva, with the rank of Ambassador
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Pompeo Announces Departure of Andrea Thompson as Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security
On December 13, the WH announced Trump’s intent to nominate retired U.S. Colonel Andrea L. Thompson to be the Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security (State/T). She was confirmed by the U.S. Senate by voice vote on April 26, 2018. She succeeded Rose Eileen Gottemoeller who served from 2014–2016, and was subsequently appointed to NATO (see Rose @Gottemoeller Moves to @NATO as First Female Deputy Secretary General). More about Thompson here.
On September 20, about 17 months into her tenure, Secretary Pompeo announced Thompson’s departure without detailing the reason she is leaving one of the top senior jobs in Foggy Bottom. So the T bureau is once more vacant, as well as the Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance which does not have a Senate-confirmed assistant secretary as of this writing (office is currently headed by Thomas DiNanno as Senior Bureau Official and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Defense Policy, Emerging Threats, and Outreach). The Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, and the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs both have Senate-confirmed assistant secretaries, presumably one of them would be up as Acting “T” until a a new nominee is identified and confirmed. How long that would take, that’s a guessing game we all can play while chaos marches on.
Related post:
- State/T to SFRC in Full Swagger and Smirk, “You’ll have to ask Russia” May 2019
- Confirmations: Grenell, Hushek, Thompson, Poblete, Madison, and 5 FS Lists April 2018
- Andrea L. Thompson to be Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security (T)Dec 2017
Under Sec for Arms Control at @StateDept, Andrea Thompson, departing after allegations that Maria Butina attended her wedding. Butina’s boyfriend at the time officiated her wedding which took place before FBI investigation into Butina & also before Thompson conf hearing. pic.twitter.com/HC2nOB1cRY
— Kylie Atwood (@kylieatwood) September 20, 2019
State Department announces the departure of Andrea Thompson, former national security adviser to Pence. pic.twitter.com/PI9ztwHaOq
— Olivier Knox (@OKnox) September 20, 2019
Thank you @SecPompeo for the opportunity to lead this incredible team. It’s been an honor to serve our great Nation for almost 3 yrs @WhiteHouse & @StateDept. I’m so very proud of our T Family team & what we’ve accomplished together for our Nation’s security. 🇺🇸 https://t.co/7vQnzeJbvZ
— U/S of State Andrea Thompson (@UnderSecT) September 20, 2019
Thrilled to host a Women in National Security (WiNS) lunch w/ this esteemed group of Ambassadors, Embassy officials, & private sector leaders. Great insights. Engaging discussion on issues of nat'l and int'l security & mentoring the next generation of national security leaders. pic.twitter.com/0Jv882iCVJ
— U/S of State Andrea Thompson (@UnderSecT) September 19, 2019
Pompeo sent his deputy to lead talks with Russia this week, at the last minute, instead of Undersecretary of State for Arms Control Andrea Thompson amidst continuing concern over her failure to disclose ties with Paul Erickson, boyfriend of Maria Butina – https://t.co/fc7BEnypCG
— Eliana Johnson (@elianayjohnson) July 17, 2019
Fire from Bob Menendez when he asks Undersecretary of State for Arms Control Andrea Thompson about Russian nuclear plans without New START.
Thompson: "It's a good question for Russia, senator."
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Menendez: "I’m not asking Russia about our national defense. I'm asking you." pic.twitter.com/v3i0VXMhIr— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) May 15, 2019
SFRC Confirmation Hearing: Marshall Billingslea to be Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights (J)
On September 19, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will have a confirmation hearing for four Trump nominees including Marshall Billingslea to be the Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights (J) at the Department of State. This office oversees five bureaus and four offices.
- Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations
- Bureau of Counterterrorism and Countering Violent Extremism
- Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
- Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
- Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration
- Office of Global Criminal Justice
- Office of International Religious Freedom
- Office of the Special Envoy To Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism
- Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
Mr. Billingslea was originally nominated in 2018, and re-nominated in January 2019.
Via WH, August 21, 2018:
Marshall Billingslea of Virginia, to be Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights at the Department of State.
Mr. Billingslea currently serves as Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing of the Treasury Department. Previously, he worked for Deloitte as a Managing Director; the Department of Defense as Deputy Under Secretary of the Navy, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict, and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Negotiations Policy; the NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, as Assistant Secretary General for Defense Investment; and the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations as a senior staff member in national security affairs. Mr. Billingslea is the recipient of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service, the Cross of Merit of the Minister of Defence of the Czech Republic, and the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana of Estonia. Mr. Billingslea earned his B.A. from Dartmouth College and M.A. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.
Must-read from @humanrights1st @BenjaminEHaas and @RobBerschinski on the Senate should reject torture proponent Billingslea to lead human rights at the State Dept https://t.co/dbzyjjbNfP
— Human Rights First (@humanrights1st) September 17, 2019
This should get more attention: Trump has nominated Marshall Billingslea, Bush-era torture proponent who advocated specific abuses of @MohamedouOuld to be…Undersecretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy & Human Rights.
Senate hearing on 9/19 https://t.co/76HPTxzq4q— Hina Shamsi (@HinaShamsi) September 17, 2019
Had a great, wide-ranging discussion w/Assistant Secretary of Treasury for Terrorism & Financial Intelligence Marshall Billingslea. Recently nominated to be Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy & Human Rights, he has a long record of dedicated public service. pic.twitter.com/P2HpC5zrxb
— Senator Rubio Press (@SenRubioPress) September 26, 2018
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UN Ambassador Nominee Kelly Craft Gets a Senate Grilling, But Why Is Mitch Still Smiling?
Help Fund the Blog | Diplopundit 2019 — 60-Day Campaign from June 5, 2019 – August 5, 2019
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WASHINGTON (AP) — The email went out from senior EPA officials to Kelly Craft, the U.S. ambassador to Canada. But the email the EPA got back a few hours later wasn’t from the ambassador. It was from her husband, a coal magnate and wealthy GOP donor. https://t.co/pSVuXUIPq2
— Julie Pace (@jpaceDC) June 25, 2019
"He should not be accessing her official emails under any circumstances," an ethics group said. The #Kentucky magnate has been proactive in seeking favorable action for the #coal industry. https://t.co/tWrytw6poW
— Lexington Herald-Leader (@heraldleader) June 25, 2019
"Kelly Craft, we hardly knew yee," We touched on Craft's reputation as an absentee ambassador to Canada here https://t.co/7lZNJxnhSn but @politico nailed it, FOIAing FAA records detailing 128 flights to US during 15 month tenure https://t.co/8bF7yjbkLP
— columlynch (@columlynch) June 18, 2019
After Sen. Bob Menendez revealed that Kelly Craft had been out of Ottawa for more than 300 days — Craft testified that many of the absences were for negotiating and promoting the USMCA.
But Democratic aides said the timing of some of the trips raised further questions pic.twitter.com/hI0m3G0kgR
— POLITICO (@politico) June 20, 2019
Trump’s U.N. pick showered key GOP senators with donations. Story from @Gardner_LM: https://t.co/XFtXLtCTjG | Photo: Getty pic.twitter.com/mdjcp0oY87
— POLITICO Pro (@POLITICOPro) March 22, 2019
Ambassador Kelly Knight Craft is a distinguished stateswoman and leader and a proud Kentuckian. Her experience in international affairs has won respect both at home and abroad. President Trump has made an outstanding selection for our next Ambassador to the United Nations. pic.twitter.com/RO810PyL5A
— Leader McConnell (@senatemajldr) June 19, 2019
State/T to SFRC in Full Swagger and Smirk, “You’ll have to ask Russia”
Tune in at 10:15am ET today as I'll be testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on The Future of Arms Control Post-Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. @SenateForeign https://t.co/MPBGwoSpQX
— U/S of State Andrea Thompson (@UnderSecT) May 15, 2019
Fire from Bob Menendez when he asks Undersecretary of State for Arms Control Andrea Thompson about Russian nuclear plans without New START.
Thompson: "It's a good question for Russia, senator."
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Menendez: "I’m not asking Russia about our national defense. I'm asking you." pic.twitter.com/v3i0VXMhIr— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) May 15, 2019
.@timkaine asks AGAIN for dates/companies for Part 810 authorizations for nuclear transfers to Saudi Arabia (State must approve DOE agreements) but Andrea Thompson cannot/doesn't provide the info. Risch promises to raise the issue in his next phone call w/ #Pompeo
— Harry Cramer (@HarrisonCramer) May 15, 2019
It's worth noting that although Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs Andrea Thompson spent 28 years in the Army—retiring as a colonel—she began her current job in June 2018 with absolutely no expertise in arms control, nuclear or otherwise.
— Stephen Schwartz (@AtomicAnalyst) May 15, 2019
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Senators Van Hollen and Sullivan Introduce the Foreign Service Families Act (S.1293)
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), cofounders of the bipartisan Foreign Service Caucus, have introduced the Foreign Service Families Act (S.1293), a bill to expand employment opportunities for spouses of Foreign Service officers.
Senator Van Hollen’s press statement notes that “This legislation will help ensure that the State Department is able to attract and retain a world-class diplomatic corps by providing expanded career options and services to eligible family members. For many of these family members, the process of finding employment isn’t easy — frequent moves, language barriers, and limited options pose significant challenges. This legislation will address that issue so our Foreign Service can continue to serve the best interests of Americans at home and abroad.”
This Foreign Service Day, @SenDanSullivan and I introduced the Foreign Service Families Act—to expand job opportunities for spouses and support the men and women who serve our country around the world. Growing up in a Foreign Service family, I know how critical this is. pic.twitter.com/6K0l50sgAV
— Chris Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen) May 3, 2019
According to Senator Van Hollen’s press statement, The Foreign Service Families Act would provide authority to the State Department to offer the same services to Foreign Service family members overseas that the Defense Department is permitted to provide to military families. This includes:
- Expanded hiring authority and preference for qualified spouses
- Ensuring that Foreign Services spouses receive notice of State Department vacancies and that those who apply receive consideration
- Making space available in State Department facilities for outside entities to provide career services
- Developing partnerships with the private sector to enhance employment opportunities for Foreign Service spouses, and
- Incorporating hiring preferences for qualified Foreign Service spouses into contracts between the Department of State and private-sector entities.
Additionally the legislation:
- Directs the State Department to expand telecommuting opportunities for Foreign Service family members, so that family members can continue to work federal civilian and private sector jobs while overseas
- Ensures that family members in the Expanded Professional Associates Program, which offers career opportunities for family members with advanced education and professional experience, are not held to unfair hiring standards, and
- Makes sure that the State Department has fully implemented the Foreign Service Family Reserve Corps, a program intended to speed hiring and improve clearance portability for Foreign Service family members.
The bill has been “read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.” We’ve searched for the text but have not yet been able to locate it. According to congress.gov, as of 05/10/2019 text has not been received for S.1293: “Bills are generally sent to the Library of Congress from GPO, the Government Publishing Office, a day or two after they are introduced on the floor of the House or Senate. Delays can occur when there are a large number of bills to prepare or when a very large bill has to be printed.”
Govtrack notes that the United States Congress considers about 5,000 bills and resolutions each year, but of those only about 7% will become law. All bills not enacted by the end of the session on Jan 3, 2021 die, and Congress will start over.
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@StateDept Gets Closer to Getting an Under Secretary for Management, Vacant Since January 2017
Leader McConnell has filed cloture on Executive Calendar #221 Brian Bulatao to be an Under Secretary of State (Management)
— Senate Cloakroom (@SenateCloakroom) May 9, 2019
Pompeo's West Point classmate and long-time friend Brian Bulatao finally gets his vote for a senior State Department job, with @DanielPFlatley https://t.co/sWsBLY4Zxe
— Nicholas Wadhams (@nwadhams) May 2, 2019
We advanced nine of @realDonaldTrump's @StateDept nominees in SFRC today. I am especially pleased to move Brian Bulatao for under secretary of State for management and David Schenker for assistant secretary of State for near eastern affairs. Statement: https://t.co/bMOIlxSh3r
— Jim Risch (@SenatorRisch) May 2, 2019
The CIA is getting a private-sector makeover: Mike Pompeo’s old friend, Brian Bulatao, is bringing business school lessons to the world of espionage https://t.co/WUG3KWl7tK pic.twitter.com/139PjNOVnn
— TicToc by Bloomberg (@tictoc) April 19, 2018
POMPEO, INC.: Among @SecPompeo’s top hires at the @StateDept are two of the guys with whom he started a Kansas machining company whose investors reportedly included the Koch brothers. @nahaltoosi: https://t.co/FnpzG9fXwu
— Kenneth P. Vogel (@kenvogel) August 21, 2018