Washington: In response to an internal watchdog report highlighting alleged misbehavior by the U.S. ambassador to Singapore, the White House stated on Friday that the matter was being taken seriously by the U.S. government.
The report, issued by the State Department’s Office of Inspector General (OIG), outlined several concerns regarding Ambassador Jonathan Kaplan’s conduct, including allegations of threats towards staff members and delays in submitting travel expenses totaling approximately $48,000 without proper documentation.
As a political appointee, Kaplan reportedly faced challenges in building effective relationships with certain Singaporean ministries and demonstrated a lack of preparedness on various issues, according to the OIG report.
“OIG found the ambassador did not model integrity, plan strategically, collaborate, or communicate,” the report stated, emphasizing the need for the State Department to evaluate his leadership and management and, if necessary, implement corrective measures.
The report further detailed accounts from staff members who described feeling intimidated by Kaplan’s behavior, with some reporting direct threats of reprisal.
While Kaplan asserted that morale had improved under his leadership and expressed confidence in the trust he had gained from his staff, the OIG report highlighted discrepancies in his adherence to departmental procedures, including irregularities in hiring consultants and failure to comply with travel policies.
Responding to the findings, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby emphasized the importance of dignified and respectful management by U.S. representatives. “The president always wants his representatives … to manage people with dignity and respect,” Kirby stated, expressing confidence in the State Department’s handling of the matter.
The OIG report specifically criticized Kaplan, who comes from an entrepreneurial background, for not following established procedures in hiring consultants and for failing to comply with travel policies, including the use of U.S. carriers and contracted travel agencies.
“OIG found approximately $48,000 worth of outstanding travel obligations extending back to December 2021 that either were not submitted for reimbursement or lacked sufficient supporting documentation to pay the travel claim,” the report concluded.
