Mike Pompeo: ‘I don’t believe there is a deep state at the State Department’

Pompeo made that comment after Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., quoted Trump’s allegation that there is a “criminal deep state” in the government. In the same breath, Lieu mentioned House Intelligence Chairman Devin Nunes’ promise to investigate the State Department’s role in the origin of the investigation into the Trump campaign over Russian interference in the 2016 election. But Pompeo downplayed the idea of a deep state more broadly as Lieu listed various wings of the intelligence community.

“This term ‘deep state’ has been thrown around,” Pompeo said. “I’ll say this, the employees that worked for me at the CIA, nearly uniformly, were aimed at achieving the president’s objectives and America’s objectives.”

It’s a charged topic within the government, as Trump maintains that the Russia investigation was borne out of political bias and hostility to his campaign and presidency. “Look how things have turned around on the Criminal Deep State,” Trump tweeted Wednesday morning. “They go after Phony Collusion with Russia, a made up Scam, and end up getting caught in a major SPY scandal the likes of which this country may never have seen before! What goes around, comes around!”

He was more nuanced when asked if that statement applies to the FBI and the Justice Department. “Uh, yes,” Pompeo said, after a moment.

“There are always exceptions to every rule; I’ve never led an organization that didn’t have bad actors. I don’t think any government organization is exempt from having malfeasance as well.”

“But in general, you’re confident that the members of the various agencies are honoring their oaths to the United States Constitution?” Lieu pressed.

“Yeah, yeah, in general; yes, sir,” Pompeo replied.