The State Department's internal watchdog has concluded there was an "appearance of undue influence or favoritism" but no actual wrongdoing in the way several high-profile investigations of alleged misconduct by U.S. diplomats were handled.
In a report released Thursday, the department's inspector general said it had found such appearances in three of eight cases it had looked at, including one involving a U.S. ambassador in Europe who was cleared of allegations he had solicited prostitutes in a park. The report said no appearance of impropriety was found in four of the cases and a review of the eighth case remains open.
Although it found no evidence of wrongdoing, the inspector general said the appearance of favoritism is problematic because it risks undermining confidence in the department and it leadership.
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