Emails cast further doubt on Pompeo's claim NPR reporter lied to him

Emails cast further doubt on Pompeo's claim NPR reporter lied to him

• Mike Pompeo’s claimed Mary Louise Kelly lied before interview
• Opinion: Kelly’s Pompeo interview was like satire. If only

Oliver Laughland
@oliverlaughland
Mon 27 Jan 2020 13.57 GMT
Last modified on Mon 27 Jan 2020 13.59 GMT

Newly released emails between the office of Mike Pompeo and NPR reporter Mary Louise Kelly cast further doubt on the secretary of state’s extraordinary claim that the journalist lied to him before a contentious interview.

Pompeo, who reportedly subjected Kelly to an expletive-ridden rant in his private living room after an interview during which he was asked about his role in the Ukraine scandal, issued a statement in which he accused the reporter of violating “the basic rules of journalism and decency”.

Kelly maintained that her meeting with Pompeo after the recorded interview was not agreed to be off the record.

NPR has stood by its reporter and emails quoted by the Washington Post show Kelly clearly expressing that Ukraine would be discussed.

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