Some GOP lawmakers have decided to seriously question John Kerry’s “fitness” to serve as Biden’s Special Envoy for Climate after Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif’s month-old comments to an Iranian economist were leaked and indicated Kerry, former Secretary of State under Obama, informed Iran of “more than 200 secret Israeli attacks on Iranian interests in Syria under then-President Trump.” This from redstate.com.
Following news of the leak, Republicans on the House Oversight and Reform Committee wrote a letter to White House counsel Dana Remus formally requesting documents related to Kerry’s security clearance and clarifying if Kerry had been privy to classified information prior to receiving a full security clearance.
In the letter, spearheaded by the panel’s top Republican, Rep. James Comer (KY), the lawmakers raised concerns about “Kerry’s fitness to serve in his current role with the National Security Council (NSC) and whether these allegations should affect Secretary Kerry’s ability to maintain a security clearance.”
They argued that the allegations against Kerry show a need to review his security clearances and asked for documents on “what, if any steps, the White House has taken to review the allegations and ensure our nation’s security.”
The GOP lawmakers asked Remus for documents and communications related to Kerry’s security clearances, including any information he provided in response to questions about any foreign contacts, activities, business and travel.
Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) joined his colleagues in signing the letter and, in a statement Wednesday, called on the Biden administration to provide transparency on the issue to restore the public’s faith in the nation’s ability to protect national security.
John Kerry is a threat to America’s national security. He has a long and damning history of putting his business and personal dealings before the business of the American people, and just as concerning, with the Iranians, who are outspoken enemies of the United States. The Biden Administration must restore the American public’s faith in our national security by providing transparency regarding how someone like John Kerry can obtain a security clearance and continue representing America’s national security interest. Since the media and Congressional Democrats refuse to conduct necessary oversight on Kerry’s dealings with the Iranian regime, my GOP colleagues and I will. Every day we waste is another day John Kerry is compromising our national security.”
The comments were reportedly part of an interview that Zarif believed would not be made public. Kerry, for his part, has denied the allegations.
I can tell you that this story and these allegations are unequivocally false. This never happened – either when I was Secretary of State or since. https://t.co/BTOdFE1khW
— John Kerry (@JohnKerry) April 26, 2021
Despite the denial, some lawmakers believe Kerry should resign.
“I don’t do this lightly. In my entire time in the Senate, I’ve never called for anyone’s resignation,” Rep. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) said upon news of the leak. “But his record, John Kerry’s record, of undermining working families and working against American national security interests was too much to bear. He needs to go.”
To be allowed to merely resign from the position? I believe this act would prove insufficient. The Justice Department, if not crooked itself, should properly investigate Kerry’s actions. I smell a traitorous rat.
