Photograph: Matt Rourke/AP
The US ambassador to New Zealand has been “counselled on standards of conduct for government employees” after an investigation into his behaviour at a party in Samoa in the summer.
US officials from the state department’s office of inspector general flew to New Zealand last week to interview Scott Brown, a former Republican senator, and reported their findings on what happened at a peace corps reception where Brown caused controversy with remarks to volunteers serving food and other guests.
Brown admitted to the New Zealand news website Stuff that he had been admonished for what he said was his praising of the appearance of several of the party’s attendees. He also said he had remarked that the waiting staff were good enough to earn hundreds of dollars in the US.
The Guardian understands that two complaints that were subject to investigation by the state department originally came from two female peace corps volunteers who were at the event, and who served food and drink to the guests as a way to flip the cultural norm of Samoans serving westerners.
But in addition to these complaints guests at the party have alleged to the Guardian that the ambassador’s behaviour was “shocking”, “culturally insensitive”, “rude” and “undiplomatic”. The Guardian contacted more than a dozen people who attended the party and spoke to a number who said he had made them feel uncomfortable.
After contacting the state department with these new allegations, a spokesman said: “The state department takes allegations of misconduct seriously and we investigate them thoroughly.
“We hold all employees to the highest standard. The office of inspector general has conducted an independent review of the allegations and reported its findings to the department.
“Senior leadership at the state department has been in contact with Ambassador Brown and he has been counselled on standards of conduct for government employees, which also includes ambassadors.”
The incident at the centre of the affair was a party that Brown attended with his wife, Gail Huff, to celebrate 50 years of the peace corps in Samoa. It was his inaugural visit to Samoa – for which he is also the official US representative.
In response to what he said were “rumours and innuendo” about his behaviour Brown said his actions were misinterpreted. He said he had told some attendees they looked “beautiful” or “handsome”, and told others they could make hundreds of dollars working in the hospitality industry in the US.
He and Huff said they had “no idea” the comments would be regarded as offensive, and the “takeaway” was that they would be “very, very careful” about what they said in the future.
