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Engel Goes Dark: Pompeo Sends Scathing Letter On Fired State Department IG

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Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sent a scathing letter Thursday to House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel, D-NY, assuring him that if he wants to take an active role in pursuing his requested investigation into former State Department Inspector General Steve Linick’s dismissal, he will have the State Department’s full transparency.

The letter comes shortly after Engel declined to speak with Deputy Secretary of State Steve Biegun, who wanted to provide him with the information he needed to proceed with his probe. Linick was removed from his post after a Defense Department investigation discovered that he had sent work emails – containing sensitive information – to his personal account regarding Brian Hook, the State Department’s top Iran official. It appears that Linick was probing the Trump administration’s actions on Iran, according to the investigation. 

“You and I share a responsibility to ensure the American people have the full truth about former State Department Inspector General Steve Linick,” Pompeo wrote. “I hear you’ve been busy in your District, so let me get you up to speed on what’s been going on with your Committee.”

“Two weeks ago, we offered for Under Secretary of State for Management Brian Bulatao to speak with you and all Members of your Committee. 2 This week, Deputy Secretary of State Steve Biegun asked to have a call with you to discuss our offer and how to provide you the information you seek.”

Pompeo added, “Last night, your staff informed us you personally declined to speak to both Mr. Bulatao and Mr. Biegun. Instead, you asked your staff to have this conversation on your behalf. As you stated in your June 10 press release, if ‘State Department officials want to refute Mr. Linick’s account, they can do so.’ That is precisely what weve been attempting to do.”

Democrats jumped on Linick’s dismissal, saying Pompeo didn’t want Linick to do his job over allegations of misconduct between himself and his own staff.

In his letter, Pompeo offered Under Secretary Bulatao “to voluntarily testify at a public hearing before the full House Committee on Foreign Affairs. If you, Mr. Chairman, want to hear the ‘answer[s to] critical questions about why President Trump fired Mr. Linick at the request of Secretary Pompeo,’ Mr. Bulatao is prepared to unambiguously refute your incorrect accusations at a hearing on June 22 or 23 – in the morning, afternoon, or evening.”

Pompeo continued, “Please let the Deputy Secretary know if you want to afford your Members this opportunity by returning his phone call at your earliest convenience. An email from your staff will not suffice.”

Pompeo also attached multiple letters previously sent to Engel asserting that he spread misinformation regarding the reason for Linick’s firing.

“I regret that you, someone for whom I have great respect, have let your staff take over this historically significant, non-partisan Committee. Please find enclosed the Department’s response to your ‘investigation,'” Pompeo concluded.

Pompeo letter to Engel by Sara on Scribd

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BREAKING: Disney drops suit challenging special district status in settlement with Florida, DeSantis

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A settlement was reached Wednesday in the two-year lawsuit over who controls the special governing district that encompasses the Walt Disney World Resort, which includes Disney dropping its lawsuitsagainst a newly created tourism board.

“We are glad that Disney has dropped its lawsuits against the new Central Florida Tourism Oversight District and conceded that their last-minute development agreements are null, void, and unenforceable,” Bryan Griffin, DeSantis’ communications director, said in a statement. “No corporation should be its own government. Moving forward, we stand ready to work with Disney and the District to help promote economic growth, family-friendly tourism, and accountable government in Central Florida.”

Fox News explains the dispute began “after Disney’s criticism of Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Act – derided by critics as the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill – prompted the DeSantis administration to revoke the special Disney-controlled tax district that gave the entertainment autonomy over its theme parks in the region.”

“No corporation should be its own government,” Bryan Griffin, a spokesman for the governor, said in an emailed statement. “Moving forward, we stand ready to work with Disney and the District to help promote economic growth, family-friendly tourism, and accountable government in Central Florida.”

Misleadingly deemed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, prohibited the teaching of sexual orientation and gender identity to young students in the state. National Review reports:

After receiving pressure from employees, Disney’s then-CEO, Bob Chapek, said that the company’s leaders had been opposed to the bill “from the outset,” and Disney declared that the legislation “should never have passed and should never have been signed into law.”

In February 2023, DeSantis signed House Bill 9B, which established the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District to replace Disney’s Reedy Creek Improvement District. Reedy Creek was a 56-year-old special taxing district that allowed Disney control its own development, regulations, building codes, and other municipal services.

Lawmakers voted to give the governor the power to appoint the district’s board members.

However, before a DeSantis-appointed board took over last March, the Disney-controlled board handed control of the district’s development over to Disney…

As part of the settlement, Disney acknowledges that the development agreement approved by the outgoing Reedy Creek board has “no legal effect or enforceability.”

As for the media reports that DeSantis had been humiliated and out-maneuvered by Disney, Griffin said that “as usual, the media were wrong.”

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