Pompeo’s wife tested positive for COVID-19: report

Susan Pompeo, the wife of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, tested positive for the coronavirus earlier this month, leading her husband to quarantine, according to sources close to the matter, Bloomberg reports.

The unnamed sources told Bloomberg that Susan Pompeo tested positive right before her husband announced he would be going into quarantine on Dec. 16 after an exposure to the virus.

The secretary of State later tested negative for the virus. At the time, the State Department did not identify who had exposed Pompeo.

Mike Pompeo’s public schedule showed that he was to attend a reception for the families of diplomats one day before he went into quarantine. The decision to host a holiday party in the midst of a worsening pandemic was highly criticized by health experts who worried it could become a “superspreader” event.

The event was also criticized for going directly against the department’s own policies that instructed State Department employees to avoid going to “non-mission critical events,” and instead encouraging them to go for virtual gatherings.

Bloomberg notes that the State Department did not specify how long Mike Pompeo planned on quarantining and his Dec. 21 public schedule had him attending meetings and briefings at the department.

On Monday, the State Department announced it would be tightening COVID-19 rules for its employees, returning to phase one of the department’s “Diplomacy Strong” strategy.

“After carefully assessing the local conditions and in close coordination with the Bureau of Medical Services, Department of State facilities in the National Capital Region (NCR) have returned to Phase 1 as of December 21,” a spokesman told The Hill.

Following the article from Bloomberg, Pompeo slammed the report calling it “patently false” adding that he and his wife did not attend any holiday parties at the White House or the State Department. 

“My wife and I did not attend any State Department nor White House holiday parties — your statement is patently FALSE,” he tweeted. “This isn’t journalism and it’s worse than gossip — it’s unethical and potentially unlawful. Stay tuned.” 

My wife and I did not attend any State Department nor White House holiday parties — your statement is patently FALSE.

This isn’t journalism and it’s worse than gossip — it’s unethical and potentially unlawful. Stay tuned. https://t.co/PKwPguHmqK

— Mike Pompeo (@mikepompeo) December 24, 2020 

Updated 6:08 p.m.