Published February 2, 2023 2:30pm EST
Kerry's activities, conducted 'under the guise of climate advocacy,' could undermine American interests, top Republican says
Climate envoy John
Kerry attends a United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland,
in 2021. (Reuters/Yves Herman)
House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., is probing Special Presidential Envoy
for Climate (SPEC) John Kerry's secretive negotiations with his Chinese
counterparts.
Comer informed Kerry in a letter sent Thursday afternoon that
the committee, under his leadership, has opened an investigation into Kerry's
role in the Biden administration and, in particular, his high-level climate negotiations with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
To date, Kerry has ignored information and document
requests from Comer and
other committee Republicans sent when they were in the minority.
"To date, you
have failed to respond to any of our requests," Comer wrote to Kerry.
"Yet, you continue to engage in activities that could undermine our
economic health, skirt congressional authority, and threaten foreign policy
under the guise of climate advocacy."
"The Committee
requests documents and information to understand your role and provide
necessary transparency over the SPEC and its activities," he continued.
"As a member of the President’s cabinet, you should be representing the
United States’ interests. Your statements, however, consistently show disregard
for American national security and taxpayer dollars."
JOHN KERRY'S OFFICE CONSULTED LEFT-WING ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS WHILE CRAFTING POLICIES, EMAILS SHOW
President Biden appointed Kerry to be the U.S. SPEC, a position that hadn't previously existed and which didn't require Senate approval, shortly after taking office in early 2021. The SPEC office is housed at the State Department and has an estimated $13.9 million annual budget with approval for 45 personnel.
Kerry's position gives
him a spot on the president's cabinet and National Security Council. Since
taking on the role, he has traveled worldwide, attending high-profile climate
summits and diplomatic engagements in an effort to push a global transition
from fossil fuels to green energy alternatives.
JOHN KERRY'S SECRETIVE CLIMATE
OFFICE DISCUSSED KEEPING PLANS OFF 'PAPER,' EMAILS SHOW
Despite the high-level role leading the Biden administration's
global climate strategy, Kerry's office has been tight-lipped about its internal
operations and staff
members, sparking criticism from Republicans, including Comer, who have
demanded transparency for such an important office.
"We are left with
an insufficient understanding of your office’s activities, spending, and
staffing," Comer continued. "To enable long overdue oversight of your
office, please provide the following documents and information."
The Oversight Committee chairman added that Kerry has been too
soft on China's human rights violations "while promoting climate
negotiations that the CCP does not even appear interested in
entering."
Kerry has been blasted for various comments that have appeared
to downplay vast human rights abuses tied to China's green energy supply
chain. After he was asked
in November 2021 about how slave labor was reportedly employed by solar panel
firms in China, Kerry said he had to stay in his "lane" when
negotiating with Chinese officials.
"Well, we’re
honest about the differences," Kerry said at the time. "We certainly
know what they are, and we’ve articulated them, but that’s not my lane here… My
job is to be the climate guy and stay focused on trying to move the climate
agenda forward."
Since assuming the SPEC position, Kerry has engaged in various private talks with Chinese counterparts, including two 2021 meetings that took place in China. Following a regional climate summit in April 2021, Kerry told CNBC that solving climate change was "not about China."
"This is not
about China. This is not a counter to China," he told the outlet.
"This is about China, the United States, India, Russia… a bunch of
countries that are emitting a pretty sizable amount."
China accounts for
about 27% of total global emissions — nearly tripling the total in the U.S.,
the world's second-largest emitter, according to Rhodium Group — and continues
to approve and construct a large amount of coal power plants.
The SPEC office didn't
immediately respond to a request for comment.
Thomas Catenacci is a
politics writer for Fox News Digital.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/john-kerrys-secret-ccp-negotiations-probed-gop-oversight-chairman
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