politics

Japan's pricey whisky gift to Pompeo still missing

41 Comments

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41 Comments
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It’s been turned into another liquid by now…

27 ( +27 / -0 )

With the vases and coins I can see the problem, but it seems kind of stupid to be insisting on accounting for a bottle of whiskey, or any other consumable item like that. Usually when one gives a gift like that the intention is for the person you are giving it to to drink it, perhaps with friends, and not to keep it in a vault for all eternity.

8 ( +13 / -5 )

OIG could not trace the items because of the lack of an inventory system to account for the disposition of items and the fact that there are no security cameras outside the gift vault.

in otherwords we'll never know who stole the items...

11 ( +12 / -1 )

He drank it and wants another.

11 ( +11 / -0 )

The last administration was known for normalizing criminality so not a surprise.

pompeo was know for using government money and resources to maintain a plush lifestyle so the whiskey must have gone there.

Later, it emerged that a collection of porcelain and copper vases valued at $20,000 that the U.S. government bought as gifts for leaders planning to attend a Group of Seven summit before it was canceled also were missing. 

Wouldn't surprise one if these are in Russia today!!

2 ( +10 / -8 )

It's good to get this update on the investigation, I've been really worried about this .....

I'm sure they'll have their top investigators on the case to try and crack it, only I'm also sure that the evidence has long since gone - best to let it go, and wait for another opportunity for such a nice gift comes around again.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Why is this even news ?!!

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

Why was it even put in the vault?

should have been promptly consumed and enjoyed.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

In a report, the inspector general said it was unable to locate a $5,800 bottle of 30-year-old Suntory Hibiki whisky that was given to Pompeo by the Japanese government in 2019, along with a 22-karat gold commemorative coin worth $560. The items were reported missing in August in a notice filed in the Federal Register.

I believe this is the second case of "missing gifts" during Pompeo's reign....

But really, we all know where they are - at Mar-A-Lago, where they stayed for awhile before being re-gifted to Putin and Xi....or maybe his BFF and love-letter sharer in Pyongyang.......

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Wouldn't surprise one if these are in Russia

it would surprise the author of the article who later told us where they were found.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

When did the G7 and other “Summit” meetings become like the Oscars, Emmys & Grammys with “some sweet Swag Bags” ??

- “Later, it emerged that a collection of porcelain & copper vases valued at $20K that the U.S. gov’t bought as gifts for leaders planning to attend a Group of Seven summit before it was canceled also were missing.”

2 ( +4 / -2 )

it would surprise the author of the article who later told us where they were found.

Always helps to read the article before commenting....

*The U.S. State Department's internal watchdog said Thursday that a nearly $6,000 bottle of Japanese whisky given to former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that was *reported missing remains unaccounted for.

They found the $20K vases - the $6K worth of booze is still missing...

I imagine it was going to be opened and shared in the Kremlin if Trump won....

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Why do states keep on giving these expensive gifts to visiting dignitaries when they full well know they are just going to be stuffed away in a government warehouse to rot away. Total waste of taxpayers money.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

C’mon. We all know Pompeo drank it. One look at this guy’s waistline will tell you he’s not the kind to deny himself anything.

Could you imagine that party at the Trump White House?

Big Macs with $6K Japanese whiskey....

7 ( +9 / -2 )

@LIncoln: Downin whiskey with a BIg Mac....with 2 all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, pickles, cheese on a sesame bun, and shots of whiskey? Nah

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

it would surprise the author of the article who later told us where they were found.

Wow the whiskey has been found?

Did the author write it in coded language?

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Readers can peruse a selection of the U.S. State Dept’s Protocol Office’s booty ‘call reports’ here:

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/02/25/2020-03722/office-of-the-chief-of-protocol-gifts-to-federal-employees-from-foreign-government-sources-reported
-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Readers can peruse a selection of the U.S. State Dept’s Protocol Office’s booty ‘call reports’ here:

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/02/25/2020-03722/office-of-the-chief-of-protocol-gifts-to-federal-employees-from-foreign-government-sources-reported

Agreed

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Seems Taro Kono was fond of giving out ‘ball pens’ valued at U.S $1800 - 2600. (A “Pilot” pen: $1800 US?)

The official wording is customarily recorded as: “Non-acceptance would cause embarrassment to donor and U.S. Government

0 ( +0 / -0 )

$5,800 bottle of whisky and a $560 coin. Boy, these good ole boys treat themselves well, don't they? Get rid of all these stinky politicos!!

1 ( +3 / -2 )

What a non-story. I think some people are just likely proud Japan was mentioned.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

who cares. this isn't news.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

A 30-year-old Suntory Hibiki whisky ? Man, would I love to have one of those and now!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

With the vases and coins I can see the problem, but it seems kind of stupid to be insisting on accounting for a bottle of whiskey, or any other consumable item like that. Usually when one gives a gift like that the intention is for the person you are giving it to to drink it, perhaps with friends, and not to keep it in a vault for all eternity.

There are usually strict rules about the value of gifts that officials can receive personally, and $6000 is far beyond that value.

It should have been auctioned off and the money either given to charity or to fund the government.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

The last administration was known for normalizing criminality so not a surprise.

Hmmm

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=121856&page=1

pompeo was know for using government money and resources to maintain a plush lifestyle so the whiskey must have gone there.

https://wjla.com/news/election/questions-raised-about-bill-clintons-use-of-taxpayer-funds-after-leaving-office

Amazing how the left think their fufu doesn't stink and are free from anykind of scandal.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

I agree with the Japan Truth crowd. A ball pen is a ball pen and nothing more than a Dic Pen. Ink neverfuns out etc., and refills easy to buy at the airport.

Minor mis understanding.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Maybe, they drank it and forgot where they threw the empty bottle.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

"However, OIG was unable to determine what happened to the other items, including the gold coin and the whisky. OIG could not trace the items because of the lack of an inventory system to account for the disposition of items and the fact that there are no security cameras outside the gift vault."

I bet China will happily sell the surveillance cameras.

No inventory system? Really? Certainly they could use MS-Excel like the rest of the world. I know my state Treasury has a single spreadsheet that tracks total tax paid by every resident and only 1 person seems to have access to it. The idea of an database is too hard for most people, so they use spreadsheets instead. That works until there are more than 10K rows, but commonly gets stretched for 5M row needs all-the-time.

The whisky price just needs to be reimbursed by Pompeo or let him spend a week in jail and 6 months cleaning up garbage on roadways in a bright orange jumpsuit. Humiliation would be good.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Could you imagine that party at the Trump White House? 

Big Macs with $6K Japanese whiskey...

Sounds fantastic to me! Heck yeah!

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

30-year-old Suntory Hibiki whisky,,

I wonder where vanished too?

Kanpai, cheers.

That will never see the light of day again

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Governments are just organised crime syndicates that operate above the law. Snouts in the trough at our expense, every chance they get.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Even if 'valued' at $6K, it's still the chemical equivalent of industrial waste and being poured down the gullet of this slack skinned alcoholic narcissist, turning his Liver to mush, is the most appropriate use it could serve...

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

@GBR48 Spot on!!!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Did you see his 85 armoured car (most of which had to be specially flown in lol) entourage driving to the "climate change" conference the other day?

Yeah, I read a guy complaining about this the other day, and when the reported questioned their experience in online seminars, they were right-wing, unemployed, and uneducated.

Turns out the people criticizing that have never actually participated in the real world, and are just armchair experts.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

With the vases and coins I can see the problem, but it seems kind of stupid to be insisting on accounting for a bottle of whiskey, or any other consumable item like that. Usually when one gives a gift like that the intention is for the person you are giving it to to drink it, perhaps with friends, and not to keep it in a vault for all eternity.

US Federal Government employees are not permitted to take gifts like that from people other than close family members. It is rightfully the property of the US Government. Mr. Pompeo accepted it for the sake of ceremony but is not allowed to keep it.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

whisky gift to Pompeo still missing

Oh no, oh dear, life will end.........

Why is this even an article?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Pretty sure that whiskey already went down his fat gullet and is long gone. Still a fancy bottle of whiskey seems much less extravagant thank the 24k gold golf clubs Abe gave Trump days after the 2016 election. Just saying

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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