Under-fire US envoy to Singapore is said to berate staff, waste money and has poor relationship with ministers


Jonathan Kaplan was confirmed as ambassador in late 2021. - The Straits Times -- PHOTO: GAVIN FOO

SINGAPORE (Bloomberg): President Joe Biden’s ambassador to Singapore threatened staff, wasted money and poorly promoted US interests, according to an internal watchdog report released on Friday.

The State Department’s inspector general said embassy employees interviewed as part of its regular review process "described a fear, and even direct threats, of reprisal” from Jonathan Kaplan, an entrepreneur and Democratic campaign donor who was confirmed as ambassador in late 2021.

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