WASHINGTON: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has canceled what would have been his final official trip abroad as concerns grow over potential violence at next weeks presidential inauguration, the State Department said Tuesday.
Less than 18 hours after announcing that Pompeo would be traveling to Brussels this week to close out his tenure as Americas top diplomat, the department said it had pulled down all senior-level overseas travel, including the secretarys.
Spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said the decision had been made to assist in the transition to the incoming Biden administration, which will assume office on Jan. 20. Since last weeks deadly assault on the U.S. Capitol by rioters encouraged by President Donald Trump, concerns have been raised about the security of Bidens inauguration. Officials said the cancellation of Pompeos trip was intended to support the transition and was not related to fears of violence.
The Department of State is well along in its transition efforts with…