One of the top House Republicans is threatening to subpoena the Biden administration to obtain information on the role of John Kerry, specifically related to his high-level negotiations with the Chinese Communist Party as the White House climate czar.
House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday reiterating past requests for all documents and information related to Kerry’s role. The renewed efforts follow nearly two years of concerns about Kerry’s ability to negotiate with foreign countries on behalf of the United States.
HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ANNOUNCES INVESTIGATION INTO JOHN KERRY NEGOTIATIONS WITH CCP
“In the 117th Congress, we twice requested information from Envoy Kerry’s office regarding his role as SPEC, a cabinet-level position that does not require Senate confirmation despite his apparent ability to bind the United States to international agreements,” Comer wrote. “We received no response.”
The request sent on Tuesday is the “final letter” Comer will send for voluntary cooperation that compels the State Department to provide access to a range of documents and communications with outside governments by May 9. If Blinken does not comply, the committee will be forced to “consider other means, including compulsory process.”
House Republicans have been pressing the Biden administration for details on Kerry’s role for years, specifically on the climate envoy’s negotiations with China. Those demands became even more prevalent in May 2022 after Kerry told the Associated Press he was negotiating with the CCP to create a group dedicated to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
That announcement prompted widespread concerns among several Republican leaders who said such a relationship could undermine the country’s economic health. After taking control of the House in January, GOP leaders wrote to Blinken on Feb. 2 for access to documents and information related to Kerry’s office, but those requests went unanswered, according to Comer.
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“The State Department has not provided any meaningful updates to Committee staff inquiries on the status of producing these documents,” he wrote. “Envoy Kerry is engaging in activities that skirt congressional authority, threaten foreign policy under the guise of climate advocacy, and could undermine our economic health. Yet, Envoy Kerry and his office are refusing to be transparent about their activities, spending, and staffing with the Committee — and the American people.”
It’s not clear why the State Department has failed to provide access to such documents, although department officials maintain it’s crucial for the Biden administration to secure climate deals from other countries in order to mitigate global emissions. A spokesperson for the department did not respond to a request for comment by the Washington Examiner.
