Pompeo's Close Contact with COVID-19 Is His 'Wife'... Still Not Wearing a Mask

Did Not Disclose Contacts Before and After Quarantine
Presumed to Have Attended Ministry of Foreign Affairs Schedule on the 21st Despite Wife Testing Positive

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] It has been reported that the wife of U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who is currently under quarantine for having contact with a COVID-19 infected person, previously tested positive for COVID-19. Local U.S. media outlets are reporting that Pompeo is facing heavy criticism for not disclosing his wife's infection and failing to take proper preventive measures.

According to foreign media including Bloomberg on the 24th (local time), Pompeo's wife, Susan Pompeo, reportedly tested positive just before Pompeo announced on the 16th that he would enter quarantine due to contact with a COVID-19 infected person. At that time, neither Pompeo nor the U.S. State Department disclosed the identity of the person Pompeo had contact with.

Pompeo tested negative at that time but immediately entered quarantine, and the party he planned to host that evening, inviting about 180 foreign ambassadors, consuls, and their spouses stationed in the U.S., was also canceled. Susan Pompeo is known to have played an important role in overseeing guest lists at the State Department party and other gatherings, lending credibility to the theory that the contact person was his wife.

Bloomberg reported that on the 15th, Pompeo's schedule included a reception for families of U.S. diplomats, but it is unclear whether Susan attended this event or other State Department functions, suggesting there may be other infected individuals. The schedule released by the U.S. State Department on the 21st reportedly included Pompeo attending meetings and briefings within the State Department.

According to CNN, Pompeo has repeatedly violated COVID-19 preventive measures and faced domestic and international criticism for traveling abroad for meetings without wearing a mask.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.