A guest wears U.S. and Singapore flags prior to the arrival of Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the White House in Washington, U.S., August 2, 2016. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/ File Photo
WASHINGTON 鈥� The White House on Friday said the U.S. government was taking seriously an internal watchdog report that the U.S. ambassador to Singapore threatened his staff and failed to submit about $48,000 in travel expenses on time or with proper documentation.
Ambassador Jonathan Kaplan, a political appointee, had poor relations with some Singaporean ministries and was often unprepared on issues, the State Department鈥檚 Office of Inspector General (OIG) said in a report.
鈥淥IG found the ambassador did not model integrity, plan strategically, collaborate, or communicate,鈥� it said, urging the State Department to assess his leadership and management and, if appropriate, 鈥渢ake corrective action.鈥�
鈥淣umerous staff described a fear, and even direct threats, of reprisal from the Ambassador,鈥� it said. 鈥淭hey described his mannerisms with personnel as belittling and intimidating.鈥�
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The report noted the ambassador鈥檚 view that 鈥渁lthough there had been a difficult transition when he assumed his position, morale had improved under his leadership, and he was confident that he had gained the trust鈥� of his staff.
鈥淭he president always wants his representatives 鈥� to manage people with dignity and respect,鈥� White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters. 鈥淗e鈥檚 comfortable that the State Department is taking this seriously.鈥�
The report faulted Kaplan, an entrepreneur, for failing to follow procedures in hiring consultants who submitted bills of $5,650 for 鈥渁 furniture research project鈥� and of $4,250 to redesign the embassy鈥檚 cafeteria.
The report found Kaplan did not follow many of the State Department鈥檚 travel policies, failing to use a travel agency under contract with the U.S. government and to comply with a U.S. law requiring the use of U.S. carriers.
鈥淥IG 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,鈥� it said.