Kmiec Resigns as Ambassador to Malta After Criticism Over His Advocacy Work
Pepperdine University law professor Douglas Kmiec has resigned as the American ambassador to Malta after the State Department’s inspector general criticized his work promoting better relations between religions.
In letters to President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Kmiec, a well-known conservative constitutional lawyer, objected to the inspector general’s conclusion that the advocacy was outside the scope of his official mission, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Quoting from Kmiec’s letters, the Times reports that Kmiec wrote that the inspector general had a “flawed and narrow vision of our diplomatic mission” and said his writings had a “highly positive effect on our diplomatic relations.”
The Times notes that one of Kmiec’s roles, when appointed by Obama to be ambassador to the small conservative Catholic island, was to advance the president’s views on interfaith dialogue.
Related coverage:
National Catholic Register: “Too Catholic to be Ambassador? Douglas Kmiec Resigns”
Politico: “Diplomat resigns after critical report”
