The indoor holiday party hosted at the State Department by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his wife Susan this Tuesday was a little light in attendance, according to a report from the Washington Post. In fact, less than 70 people showed up from the 900-plus invite list.
In the run-up to the event, public health officials and U.S. lawmakers warned that the gathering had all the markings of a superspreader event, according to U.S. officials familiar with the situation speaking to the Post.
“Pompeo, whose name was on the invitation and who was scheduled to speak at the event, canceled his speech and tapped a substitute speaker, said the two officials. The event was dedicated to the family members of diplomats serving overseas in dangerous postings that require them to leave their spouses and children behind, such as in Iraq or Afghanistan,” the Post reports. “The State Department did not respond to questions about why Pompeo canceled the speech and whether it was due to his own health concerns about holding a large indoor event.”
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