Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s wife, Susan, instructed State Department staff to complete personal tasks while their son asked if he or the software company he worked for could be involved in an event planned by the federal agency, reports NBC News.
Pompeo is already under investigation for alleged misdeeds at the State Department and is also facing a probe into whether he violated federal ethics law by delivering prerecorded remarks to the Republican National Convention while on official diplomatic travel in Israel.
According to emails obtained by NBC News as part of a Freedom of Information Act request, Susan Pompeo routinely gave instructions to State Department officials from her personal email address about travel plans, restaurant reservations and maintenance requests for the house the family rents on a military base outside Washington, D.C.
Mike Pompeo in 2015 criticized Hillary Clinton for using her personal email to conduct government business.
Nick Pompeo, in an email to State Department officials less than three months after his father was sworn in, expressed his gratitude for a private tour he and his mother were given of the agency’s museum.
"I also want to reinforce my willingness to help your mission in any way I can," he reportedly wrote. "We view this as a family endeavor, so if you think there is any place I can add value, don't hesitate to reach out."
He also requested details about times, dates and volunteer opportunities and ''how I or anyone at my company could help.''
Stephen Gillers, a law and ethics professor at New York University’s School of Law, told NBC there were ''certainly 'optics' issues here.''
''It can look like Pompeo is using the office to ingratiate himself with others, possibly future supporters in a 2024 White House race," Gillers said, adding, "I don't see that they used the office for financial gain."
Solange Reyner ✉
Solange Reyner is a writer and editor for Newsmax. She has more than 15 years in the journalism industry reporting and covering news, sports and politics.
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.