Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
US ambassador to New Zealand Scott Brown 'counselled' over behaviour at party
Source: The Guardian
US ambassador to New Zealand Scott Brown 'counselled' over behaviour at party
Statement issued after office of state department’s inspector general conducted investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour
Julian Borger in Washington and Eleanor Ainge Roy in Dunedin
Thursday 26 October 2017 23.35 BST
The US ambassador to New Zealand has been “counselled on standards of conduct for government employees” after an investigation into his behaviour at a party in Samoa in the summer.
US officials from the state department’s office of inspector general flew to New Zealand last week to interview Scott Brown, a former Republican senator, and reported their findings on what happened at a peace corps reception where Brown caused controversy with remarks to volunteers serving food and other guests.
Brown admitted to the New Zealand news website Stuff that he had been admonished for what he said was his praising of the appearance of several of the party’s attendees. He also said he had remarked that the waiting staff were good enough to earn hundreds of dollars in the US.
The Guardian understands that two complaints that were subject to investigation by the state department originally came from two female peace corps volunteers who were at the event, and who served food and drink to the guests as a way to flip the cultural norm of Samoans serving westerners.
But in addition to these complaints guests at the party have alleged to the Guardian that the ambassador’s behaviour was “shocking”, “culturally insensitive”, “rude” and “undiplomatic”. The Guardian contacted more than a dozen people who attended the party and spoke to a number who said he had made them feel uncomfortable.
-snip-
Statement issued after office of state department’s inspector general conducted investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour
Julian Borger in Washington and Eleanor Ainge Roy in Dunedin
Thursday 26 October 2017 23.35 BST
The US ambassador to New Zealand has been “counselled on standards of conduct for government employees” after an investigation into his behaviour at a party in Samoa in the summer.
US officials from the state department’s office of inspector general flew to New Zealand last week to interview Scott Brown, a former Republican senator, and reported their findings on what happened at a peace corps reception where Brown caused controversy with remarks to volunteers serving food and other guests.
Brown admitted to the New Zealand news website Stuff that he had been admonished for what he said was his praising of the appearance of several of the party’s attendees. He also said he had remarked that the waiting staff were good enough to earn hundreds of dollars in the US.
The Guardian understands that two complaints that were subject to investigation by the state department originally came from two female peace corps volunteers who were at the event, and who served food and drink to the guests as a way to flip the cultural norm of Samoans serving westerners.
But in addition to these complaints guests at the party have alleged to the Guardian that the ambassador’s behaviour was “shocking”, “culturally insensitive”, “rude” and “undiplomatic”. The Guardian contacted more than a dozen people who attended the party and spoke to a number who said he had made them feel uncomfortable.
-snip-
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/27/us-ambassador-to-new-zealand-scott-brown-counselled-over-behaviour-at-party
1 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
