State Department

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says "many countries" are working to undermine American democracy. He adds: "To protect our elections, America should leave no stone unturned."

Mike Pompeo Says Ukraine, 2016 Election Interference Should Be Investigated

5:29pm November 26, 2019

by Brakkton Booker

"Many countries" are working to undermine American democracy, the secretary of state said. U.S. intelligence services have overwhelmingly determined Russia is to blame for U.S. election interference.

Philip Reeker, acting assistant secretary of state for Europe, arrives Oct. 26 for a closed-door interview at the Capitol in Washington.

READ: Testimony Of Philip Reeker, Acting Assistant Secretary Of State For Europe

5:15pm November 26, 2019

by Elena Moore

On Oct. 26, Reeker told lawmakers that senior State Department officials blocked him from helping Marie Yovanovitch, the former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine who was the subject of a pressure campaign.

New documents show Secretary of State State Mike Pompeo had contact with President Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani weeks before the U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine was recalled.

State Department Files Show Giuliani, Pompeo Contact Before Ukraine Ambassador's Exit

5:58pm November 23, 2019

by Brakkton Booker

The talks took place near the time Giuliani and two of his associates were trying to push U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch out of her post in Kyiv. She was recalled from her post in May.

Hoda Muthana was held in al-Hol camp, which houses relatives of Islamic State group members in northeastern Syria. She was recently transferred to a different detention camp.

Judge Rules That U.S.-Born Woman Who Joined ISIS Is Not A U.S. Citizen

3:22pm November 15, 2019

by Merrit Kennedy

Hoda Muthana, a 25-year-old who was a student at the University of Alabama at Birmingham when she traveled to Syria, is currently imprisoned at a detention camp in northern Syria with her young son.

Sahar Nowrouzzadeh speaking at an event at Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center. A report released by the State Department's Inspector General on Thursday found that Nowrouzzadeh was improperly removed from her government post after articles attempting

Politics & Government

Watchdog Report: Trump Official Punished Public Servant Over Her Iranian Heritage

9:34am November 15, 2019

by Bobby Allyn

The State Department's inspector general released a report concluding that Trump officials demoted a national security expert over her Iranian roots and the perception that she was disloyal to Trump.

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Top State Department official George Kent (left) and acting U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor are sworn in to testify during the first public Trump impeachment hearing on Wednesday.

Politics & Government

7 Moments That Stood Out From The 1st Day Of The Trump Impeachment Hearings

9:29am November 14, 2019

by Domenico Montanaro

Acting U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor and top State Department official George Kent testified in an open hearing Wednesday, the first of many to come in the impeachment inquiry.

President Trump is on the defensive after congressional investigators released thousands of pages of transcripts of closed-door depositions as part of the Ukraine affair and impeachment inquiry.

Politics & Government

What We Learned From Reading Thousands Of Pages Of Impeachment Inquiry Transcripts

7:00am November 09, 2019

by Domenico Montanaro

Here are eight things that stood out from the past week's release of closed-door deposition transcripts.

George Kent, deputy assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs, arrives at a closed session with House impeachment investigators on Oct. 15. Lawmakers released the transcript of that deposition on Thursday.

Ukraine Pressure Campaign Undermined 'Rule Of Law,' Top State Dept. Official Says

6:00pm November 07, 2019

by Domenico Montanaro

"Politically related prosecutions ... undermine the rule of law," George Kent said in his deposition. The transcript of his interview with impeachment investigators was released on Thursday.

Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux council member Patricia Iron Cloud (center) watches protesters make speeches against the Keystone XL pipeline.

National

State Department Solicits Comments On Keystone XL Pipeline

12:35pm October 31, 2019

by Olivia Reingold

The public had its first and only chance to meet with State Department officials about a new environmental analysis of the Keystone XL pipeline this week. Some protesters drove hours to attend.

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Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan appears before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday for his confirmation hearing to be the new U.S. ambassador to Russia.

Democrats Grill Trump's Nominee For Russia Ambassador Over Ukraine

4:55pm October 30, 2019

by Merrit Kennedy

John Sullivan's confirmation hearing was a window into discussions at the State Department over Ukraine relations — as impeachment testimony hearings are happening behind closed doors.