WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs – questioned Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during a subcommittee hearing on the State Department’s FY2020 appropriations request.

“With continued global conflict and the ongoing confrontation of human rights abuses, the work being done by the hardworking men and women of the State Department to provide peace and stability cannot be overlooked and must be strongly supported,” said Sen. Moran. “I was pleased to discuss the State Department’s priorities with Secretary Pompeo, and I look forward to working with the Secretary to provide the necessary resources for the Department to conduct diplomacy around the world.”

“During this hearing, I also asked specific questions of Secretary Pompeo regarding the assassination of Kansan and UN worker Michael Sharp, and I’ll continue to pursue why this peaceful investigator was murdered while working in the middle of a violent rebellion,” continued Sen. Moran.
 

Click Here to Watch Sen. Moran’s Full Questioning on Michael Sharp

Sen. Moran: “Chairman, thank you. Secretary, welcome, thank you for your service and presence with us today.

“Travel with me, if you would, around the globe. Let me start with the Democratic Republic of the Congo for a home state issue. Michael Sharp was assassinated, he was a UN worker in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, he comes from Kansas. That occurred in March of 2017. There is evidence to believe that the assassination was conducted by the security forces by the previous President Joseph Kabila. We have had, as recently as last month, conversations with the UN Secretary – I and others are dissatisfied with the UN investigation. What, if any role, has the State Department, or will the State Department play in the attempt to provide justice for Mr. Sharp’s family?”

Sec. Pompeo (0:49): “So, if I may speak without talking about the particular case, but I’ll tell you what we do in instances just like this one. I’m happy to give you a briefing on what we did in this particular instance but the State Department is always involved when there’s an incident like the one you described. We work with the local law enforcement, as do other elements of the United States Government to try and get the facts. Where there is a UN investigation, as you described here, we work to push the UN to get it right. And to make sure, too, that they have the resources they need in that theater in that space to get it right, too. We work to help them develop relationships, carry out conversations so that we can get answers for the American people, and in this case a Kansan.”

Sen. Moran (1:28): “Mr. Secretary if you would, if someone would at your bequest, on your behalf, visit with me about this specific case, I’d welcome that conversation. Thank you.”

Click here to watch Sen. Moran’s full questioning.
 

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