US supports calls for external ethics probe into OAS chief’s ‘romantic relationship’ with staff member
- Secretary General of the Organisation of American States, Luis Almagro, may have violated ethics code by having an intimate relationship with head adviser
- Almagro faces criticism on other matters, including from a group of ex-presidents and leaders from 16 countries calling for his removal, citing ‘amoral’ actions
The head of the Organisation of American States is facing growing calls, including from the Biden administration, for an external probe into possible misconduct tied to his intimate relationship with a subordinate.
The Washington-based group’s own inspector general in a memo this week said it is in the organisation’s “best interest” to hire an outside firm to investigate allegations that Secretary General Luis Almagro may have violated the ethics code.
The inspector general’s recommendation was based on a report by Associated Press finding that Almagro carried on a relationship with a Mexican-born staffer described online, including on the organisation’s own website, as “head adviser” to the secretary general.
The inspector general said the report followed a loosely detailed, anonymous whistle-blower complaint forwarded to his office by Almagro himself on June 3.
The peace and democracy-building organisation’s ethics code prohibits managers from supervising or taking part in decisions that benefit individuals with whom they are romantically involved.
The proposal to hire an outside firm to look into Almagro’s behaviour is expected to be discussed Wednesday at the next meeting of the 34-member organisation’s permanent council.