Missing Gift: Where's Mike Pompeo's $ 5,800 Whiskey?

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Mike Pompeo 2019 in Washington

Photo: Alex Brandon / AP

Whenever high-ranking employees of the US government receive expensive gifts from other heads of state or government, precise records are kept.

Who gave what and when?

And how much was the present worth?

Every year there is also an inventory - and this year a missing whiskey bottle was noticed.

In June 2019, the Japanese government presented the then US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo with the alcohol as a gift, the whiskey is worth $ 5,800, which is the equivalent of almost 5,000 euros.

Only: It is uncertain where the bottle is now.

The State Department said on Wednesday that there was an "ongoing investigation" into the case.

A spokesman for the former foreign minister said Pompeo was unaware of the gift and had not been contacted by anyone regarding an investigation.

When US government officials report their expensive gifts, they have several options: They can hand them over to the National Archives or other government agency.

There is also the option to keep the present - in which case, however, the equivalent value must be reimbursed.

Pompeo, for example, received two carpets worth $ 19,400;

one from the President of Kazakhstan, the other from the Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates.

Both carpets were handed over to the General Services Administration in Washington.

Former presidential couple Donald and Melania Trump received gifts worth $ 190,000 in 2019.

In the previous year it was $ 88,200.

And in 2017, during their first year at the White House, the couple received presents worth $ 140,000 together.

aar / AP