Pat Kennedy is someone who had a fairly interesting career up at the State Department. It began when Kennedy was assistant secretary for security during bombings of US Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998. During the Clinton administration, some believe that this was when Kennedy developed a close relationship with the Clinton family by papering over certain lapses in security.
Image courtesy of Getty
Years later, Kennedy was the Undersecretary of State for Management during the Benghazi attack in 2011 which saw him in charge of many of the day-to-day operations at the State Department. Reportedly, Kennedy was a micro-manager who reached down through the layers of bureaucracy to directly control who went where in Libya. “He made the fateful decision that reduced professional American security personnel assigned to Tripoli from 34 to 6, with tragic consequences for Ambassador Chris Stevens, Sean Smith, Glenn Doherty, and Ty Woods,” Fox News reported.
According to SOFREP’s sources, Kennedy was busy deleting emails after Benghazi blew up into a full-fledged media scandal. One report even had him trying to pin the security lapses on a younger colleague. As the story goes, she shut him down when she was able to produce a CD-ROM backup of all of her boss’s emails that she had made.
Dodging accountability, and helping others do the same seems to be his area of expertise. Kennedy was also spotlighted when news broke that the US Ambassador to Belgium, Howard Gutman, was evading his own security details in order to procure the services of underaged prostitutes. “The ambassador was called to Washington, D.C. to meet with Undersecretary of State for Management Patrick Kennedy, but was permitted to return to his post,” CBS reported. Kennedy also squashed the Inspector General investigation for Gutman.
Then there was the unproven allegation that Kennedy was asking the FBI to declassify e-mails for Hillary Clinton (remember his relationship with the Clintons goes back to the 90’s) in the wake of her email scandal. Retroactively downgrading the classification of those e-mails would place Hillary in a much better position, and in exchange, Kennedy allegedly offered to open more overseas assignments to the FBI in a quid pro quo arrangement.
Kennedy was known by many as a snake in the grass who had long avoided accountability, and who helped others do the same. It wasn’t until last week that he finally had to resign from the State Department. With the Trump administration in the White House, and Rex Tillerson nominated as Secretary of State, perhaps it was finally made clear that the old guard from the Clinton years had to pack their bags and head home.
Editorial cartoon courtesy of Robert L. Lang
Pat Kennedy is someone who had a fairly interesting career up at the State Department. It began when Kennedy was assistant secretary for security during bombings of US Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998. During the Clinton administration, some believe that this was when Kennedy developed a close relationship with the Clinton family by papering over certain lapses in security.
Image courtesy of Getty
Years later, Kennedy was the Undersecretary of State for Management during the Benghazi attack in 2011 which saw him in charge of many of the day-to-day operations at the State Department. Reportedly, Kennedy was a micro-manager who reached down through the layers of bureaucracy to directly control who went where in Libya. “He made the fateful decision that reduced professional American security personnel assigned to Tripoli from 34 to 6, with tragic consequences for Ambassador Chris Stevens, Sean Smith, Glenn Doherty, and Ty Woods,” Fox News reported.
According to SOFREP’s sources, Kennedy was busy deleting emails after Benghazi blew up into a full-fledged media scandal. One report even had him trying to pin the security lapses on a younger colleague. As the story goes, she shut him down when she was able to produce a CD-ROM backup of all of her boss’s emails that she had made.
Dodging accountability, and helping others do the same seems to be his area of expertise. Kennedy was also spotlighted when news broke that the US Ambassador to Belgium, Howard Gutman, was evading his own security details in order to procure the services of underaged prostitutes. “The ambassador was called to Washington, D.C. to meet with Undersecretary of State for Management Patrick Kennedy, but was permitted to return to his post,” CBS reported. Kennedy also squashed the Inspector General investigation for Gutman.
Then there was the unproven allegation that Kennedy was asking the FBI to declassify e-mails for Hillary Clinton (remember his relationship with the Clintons goes back to the 90’s) in the wake of her email scandal. Retroactively downgrading the classification of those e-mails would place Hillary in a much better position, and in exchange, Kennedy allegedly offered to open more overseas assignments to the FBI in a quid pro quo arrangement.
Kennedy was known by many as a snake in the grass who had long avoided accountability, and who helped others do the same. It wasn’t until last week that he finally had to resign from the State Department. With the Trump administration in the White House, and Rex Tillerson nominated as Secretary of State, perhaps it was finally made clear that the old guard from the Clinton years had to pack their bags and head home.
Editorial cartoon courtesy of Robert L. Lang
As someone who’s seen what happens when the truth is distorted, I know how unfair it feels when those who’ve sacrificed the most lose their voice. At SOFREP, our veteran journalists, who once fought for freedom, now fight to bring you unfiltered, real-world intel. But without your support, we risk losing this vital source of truth. By subscribing, you’re not just leveling the playing field—you’re standing with those who’ve already given so much, ensuring they continue to serve by delivering stories that matter. Every subscription means we can hire more veterans and keep their hard-earned knowledge in the fight. Don’t let their voices be silenced. Please consider subscribing now.
One team, one fight,
Brandon Webb former Navy SEAL, Bestselling Author and Editor-in-Chief
Barrett is the world leader in long-range, large-caliber, precision rifle design and manufacturing. Barrett products are used by civilians, sport shooters, law enforcement agencies, the United States military, and more than 75 State Department-approved countries around the world.
PO Box 1077 MURFREESBORO, Tennessee 37133 United States
Scrubba Wash Bag
Our ultra-portable washing machine makes your journey easier. This convenient, pocket-sized travel companion allows you to travel lighter while helping you save money, time and water.
Our roots in shooting sports started off back in 1996 with our founder and CEO, Josh Ungier. His love of airguns took hold of our company from day one and we became the first e-commerce retailer dedicated to airguns, optics, ammo, and accessories. Over the next 25 years, customers turned to us for our unmatched product selection, great advice, education, and continued support of the sport and airgun industry.
COMMENTS
There are on this article.
You must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this article.