Internal State Dept Watchdog Asks for Outside Experts to Review How Complaints Are Handled

Amid allegations of a series of cover-ups

The State Department's internal watchdog has asked outside law enforcement experts to review how complaints of serious misconduct or crimes against American diplomats are investigated, amid charges that some probes have been improperly halted by senior officials.

The department said Tuesday the assessment was contracted by the Office of the Inspector General to determine if investigators in the Bureau of Diplomatic Security have the independence necessary to do their jobs effectively. Officials said the review is expected to be complete later this summer.