Subpoena Coming for John Kerry?

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) sent a letter “to U.S. Department of State Secretary Antony Blinken requesting all documents and information related to Special Presidential Envoy for Climate (SPEC) John Kerry’s role within the Biden Administration.”

The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability said John Kerry “continues to negotiate deals with foreign governments, including the Chinese Communist Party, that potentially undermine the United States’ interests and the Biden Administration has refused to respond to Committee requests for information on Kerry’s powerful, unchecked position.”

“Rep. James Comer is threatening a subpoena to obtain info on John Kerry’s role in the Biden Admin,” the House Oversight Committee tweeted.

As Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, why is John Kerry negotiating deals with foreign governments that potentially undermine America's interests?@RepJamesComer is threatening a subpoena to obtain info on John Kerry's role in the Biden Admin.https://t.co/N5w1XLycdS

— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) April 25, 2023

From the House Oversight Committee press release:

“For almost two years, the Biden Administration has refused to respond to requests from the Committee on Oversight and Accountability regarding Special Presidential Envoy for Climate (SPEC) John Kerry’s office. 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. We received no response. We wrote again to Envoy Kerry’s office in the 118th Congress on February 2, 2023, requesting documents and information. The White House referred our letter to the State Department. The State Department has not provided any documents or information,” wrote Chairman Comer.

Last Congress, then-Ranking Member Comer pressed for information on John Kerry’s role in the Biden Administration in June 2021 and October 2022. In addition, he renewed his request for information as Chairman of the Committee on February 2, 2023.

“The State Department has not provided any meaningful updates to Committee staff inquiries on the status of producing these documents,” continued Chairman Comer. “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. We write a final time to request the Department to voluntarily produce the documents and information the Committee has requested. If the Department refuses to produce documents and information on this matter, the Committee will have to consider other means, including compulsory process.”

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In an escalation of GOP efforts to learn more about the work of John Kerry, House Oversight and Accountability Committee chairman James Comer signaled he's prepared to subpoena the special climate envoy's office, if it doesn't get the desired documents. https://t.co/NQ4K6MhM1j

— Axios (@axios) April 25, 2023

Axios reported:

Why it matters: It’s an escalation of GOP efforts to learn more about the work of Kerry, the former secretary of State who’s occupying a powerful position within the Biden administration as a climate super-diplomat.

Zoom in: The letter seeks a range of documents on budgets, communications with outside governments and advocacy groups, and much more by May 9.

The big picture: The letter attacks Kerry’s work alongside the demand for documents.

• It alleges Kerry’s activities “skirt congressional authority, threaten foreign policy under the guise of climate advocacy, and could undermine our economic health.”

The other side: Kerry’s has been working to corral more aggressive climate commitments from other countries — including China, the world’s largest emitter — and the private sector.

• Administration officials, including Kerry, emphasize that failing to stem global emissions will bring damaging economic consequences.

Read the full letter to State Secretary Blinken below: