An internal investigator of the US State Department has criticised the US Ambassador to Malta, Douglas Kmiec, for spending too much time writing on subjects such as abortion and his Catholic beliefs to the detriment of American diplomacy.

The report, released by the State Department’s inspector general, says Prof. Kmiec’s “outside activities have detracted from his attention to core mission goals” and his articles distract embassy officials forced to review his writing. Prof. Kmiec, who was recently involved in a tragic road accident in the US in which two of his close friends lost their lives, is well known as a pro-life Catholic backer of President Barack Obama.

The report says the Ambassador has achieved some policy successes and is respected by Maltese officials and mission staff.

However, “based on a belief that he was given a special mandate to promote President Obama’s interfaith initiatives, he has devoted considerable time to writing articles for publication in the US as well as in Malta, and to presenting his views on subjects outside the bilateral portfolio”.

The report recommended that the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs should require the Ambassador to report on his efforts to refocus attention on mission priorities.