Washington—Representatives Eliot L. Engel, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Carolyn B. Maloney, Chairwoman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, today issued the following statement on the resignation of State Department Acting Inspector General (IG) Stephen Akard:

“The selection of Ambassador Akard as Acting IG created serious conflicts of interest by placing him in a position of reporting to the very people—including Under Secretary Brian Bulatao and Secretary Mike Pompeo—whom his office is responsible for overseeing and investigating. His resignation today adds to Congress’s questions about the independence of the IG’s office following the firing of former IG Steve Linick in an apparent act of retaliation by Secretary Pompeo.

“Ambassador Akard’s abrupt resignation— after agreeing to our requests that he recuse himself from State IG investigations in which he was conflicted —must not further disrupt the Office of Inspector General’s important investigations. Any effort by the Trump Administration to install another political loyalist would further undercut the ability of the Office to properly carry out its critical mission.

“Congress will continue working to uncover the truth behind former IG Steve Linick’s firing and protect the vital independence of the Office of Inspector General.”

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