Another watchdog at US State Department abruptly gone

[WASHINGTON] The internal watchdog looking into accusations about arms deals against US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo abruptly quit on Wednesday, just months after his predecessor was fired.

Stephen Akard - the State Department's acting inspector general - is a longtime aide to Vice-President Mike Pence and his installation in May had widely been seen as a way to keep a friendly figure in the role.

"He left to go back home. This happens. I don't have anything more to add to that," Mr Pompeo told reporters, declining further comment.

A State Department spokesperson said Mr Akard was "returning to the private sector after years of public service," adding: "We appreciate his dedication to the department and to our country."

Robert Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, voiced alarm at the "leadership crisis" at the State Department and vowed that Congress would work to ensure an independent probe after Mr Akard's departure.

"I do not believe he was the right choice to lead the office, but I am concerned that his sudden resignation leaves another opportunity for the Trump administration to try to weaken oversight and accountability," Mr Menendez said in a statement.

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Mr Akard's departure comes just as his office finalises a report on Mr Pompeo's controversial decision to bypass Congress to sell US$8.1 billion in arms to Saudi Arabia and other Arab allies.

President Donald Trump fired Mr Akard's predecessor, Steve Linick, in May on Mr Pompeo's advice as he probed the affair.

Mr Linick was also looking into allegations that Mr Pompeo abused his power by asking a State Department employee to run personal errands such as walking his dog and going to the dry cleaner.

Mr Pompeo has said that he did not approve of Mr Linick's work and that Mr Trump had authority to remove him regardless of the reason.

A former Pompeo aide last week told lawmakers investigating Mr Linick's firing that State Department employees had voiced concern about the arms sales to Saudi Arabia.

Lawmakers had warned that the weapons sale would lead to more suffering in Yemen, where a Saudi-led air campaign has hit schools, hospitals and other civilian sites as the kingdom tries to dislodge Huthi rebels.

Mr Pompeo bypassed Congress by declaring an emergency involving Iran, which backs the Huthis.

The new acting inspector general will be Diana Shaw, a lawyer and veteran of the watchdog's office.

As the deputy, she would have been in line to be acting inspector general when Mr Linick was fired, raising eyebrows over why Mr Akard was installed instead in the first place.

Mr Akard comes from Pence's home state of Indiana and advised him as governor. He also quit as head of the State Department's Office of Foreign Missions, which deals with embassies.

AFP