Report: State Department Covered-Up Allegations Of Illegal Activities

News broke late yesterday that a State Department internal memo sheds light on at least eight different instances in which the agency allegedly covered-up illegal activities.

These allegations include drug use by U.S. foreign officials, sexual assault, and soliciting prostitution.

Aurelia Fedenisn, a member of the State Department Inspector General’s office, detailed to CBS News how several of these activities were never investigated or interfered with and, in one instance, told explicitly by State Department officials to stop investigating an ambassador who was accused of soliciting prostitutes.

As Fedenisn told CBS News, “We also uncovered several allegations of criminal wrongdoing in cases, some of which never became cases.”

“I mean my heart really went out to the agents in that office, because they really want to do the right thing, they want to investigate the cases fully, correctly, accurately … and they can’t,” Fedenisn said.

But Fedenisn was not the only State Department official who complained who alleged cover-ups. Mike Poehlitz, a former Diplomatic Security Service agent, said he was flatly told to stop investigating a case.

Ed Royce, chairman of the House Foreign Affair Committee, is beginning an investigation into the allegations.

In the weeks to come, it’s important that we learn more about these alleged cover-ups and ensure that our government officials are kept accountable.