(CNN) The State Department revoked a prestigious award from a Finnish journalist because of social media posts critical of President Donald Trump, according to a report from the State Department Office of Inspector General. Although the watchdog found that the State Department had acted within its "broad discretion" to rescind the award from Jessikka Aro, it also found that the department lied to Congress and the press to explain why it had done so. After a Foreign Policy report suggested that the State Department may have retaliated against her because of her criticism Trump on social media, then-State Department deputy spokesperson Robert Palladino asserted it was a miscommunication and that she had been "incorrectly notified" of her award. He called it a "regrettable error," saying Aro actually "had not" been a finalist. However, the 16-page OIG report found that Aro's social media posts were the only reason her award was rescinded.

Source: CNN September 25, 2020 14:48 UTC