As Mike Pompeo fundraises for Republicans in Iowa today, it’s worth remembering that just a couple months ago, as Putin was getting ready to launch his war on Ukraine, Pompeo was praising Putin as a “savvy,” “talented,” and “capable statesman.”

Oh, and he spent four years dutifully following Trump’s lead as Trump sold out our allies, destroyed America’s global reputation, and cozied up to Putin. 

Mike Pompeo praised Putin as “talented,” “savvy,” and a  “capable statesman” in remarks that were repeatedly broadcasted on Russian state media.  

Kansas City Star: “Mike Pompeo has lauded the Russian strongman over the past month as a ‘talented,’ ‘savvy,’ ‘capable statesman,’ offering his praise during a slew of interviews after his political action committee spent $30,000 on improving his performance in media appearances.”

MSNBC: “It’s not just Trump: Mike Pompeo also offered praise for Putin”

The Independent: “Mike Pompeo dodges questions on his praise for Putin as ‘talented’ and ‘savvy’”

Newsweek: “Trump’s former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has also repeatedly praised Putin in the runup to the invasion. His praise has even been rebroadcast on Russian television.”

As secretary of state, Pompeo peddled debunked conspiracy theories, enabled Donald Trump as he cozied up to Putin, and used the State Department to pursue Trump’s political goals. 

New York Times: “Yet during a combative three-hour Senate hearing, Mr. Pompeo repeatedly declined to provide specifics about a one-on-one meeting between President Trump and Mr. Putin last week in Helsinki, Finland — including the possibility of relaxing sanctions on Moscow, military cooperation in Syria or the future of Crimea.”

Reuters: “Pompeo suggests debunked Ukraine election meddling theory should be probed”

Foreign Policy: “In Foggy Bottom, Pompeo has gone silent since the president’s meeting in Helsinki, where the secretary of state met on the sidelines with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, then refused to answer any questions from the press.”

New York Times: “Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has for months deflected questions about whether the Trump administration demanded political favors from Ukraine in exchange for military aid. He has refused to explain why he recalled the American ambassador, declared that it was ‘inappropriate’ for his diplomats to testify before Congress and declined to hand over documents to impeachment investigators.”

And for extra credit, who could forget how Mike Pompeo led negotiations with the Taliban that strengthened them and saw thousands of their fighters released? 

Politico: “The negotiations Pompeo helped conduct as secretary of State resulted in a four-part withdrawal deal with the Taliban that committed the U.S. to a phased, conditions-based removal of all troops in a 14-month period… it also made concessions, like the release of 5,000 combat and political Taliban prisoners and a review of sanctions against the organization. The Afghan government was not involved in the negotiations, a move that critics say undermined the country’s leadership and legitimacy.”

New York Times: “As secretary of state, Mike Pompeo helped negotiate that agreement with the Taliban.”

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