The Senate Foreign Relations Committee's top Democrat is asking the State Department's inspector general to investigate President Trump's envoy to Germany amid accusations he is inappropriately wading into European politics.

In a letter, Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) raised questions about Ambassador Richard Grenell's comments to the right-leaning Bretibart News, in which Grenell said that he hoped to "empower other conservatives throughout Europe."

The remarks were an unusual break from diplomatic norms. Ambassadors and other diplomats may lobby foreign governments over certain issues, but rarely chime in on the domestic politics of their host countries.

"U.S. ambassadors, whether political appointees or career officials, have long taken pains to avoid interfering in the politics of the countries in which they serve by trumpeting partisan views," Menendez wrote.

"In order to restore trust and maintain productive diplomatic ties with one of our closest European allies, it is critical for the State Department to show that it takes these comments and their negative impact on our diplomatic relations abroad seriously," he added.

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