Special Presidential Envoy on Climate John Kerry (D) is in the hot seat again. During a House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee hearing, Florida Rep. Mike Waltz (R) questioned Kerry over his “shadow diplomacy.”
Kerry was questioned over several concerns, including “his travel on, and ownership of, a private jet, as well as his shadow diplomacy with the Iran Regime during the Trump Administration” according to a press release from Rep. Waltz’s office.
During the hearing, Kerry was questioned over owning a private jet. While testifying under oath, Kerry had refuted the claim that he owned a private jet. However, when questioned once again if he owned a private jet, or if his wife owned a private jet, Kerry commented that his wife owned a private jet.
Kerry, who’s currently leading the charge against climate change, has faced scrutiny over, what Republicans argue is actions that go against his charge.
“When we are asking Americans to make serious sacrifices, as we transition, for the common good, and your family and/or yourself are flying around on private jets, that smacks of hypocrisy and it actually, hurts your cause,” Waltz countered before urging that Kerry “lead by example.”
Kerry was also questioned over his relationship with Former Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif.
The New York Times had provided leaked audio of Kerry and Zarif speaking. Kerry had allegedly notified Zarif that Israel had attacked Syrian assets in Syria “at least two hundred times.” When asked if he had done that, Kerry denied it.
Citing that “shadow diplomacy undermines American goals,” Kerry argued that “shadow diplomacy has also saved us from a war,” commenting that in “1963 with the Cuban Missile Crisis, it was behind the scenes, backchannel conversations.”
“I would posture that your shadow diplomacy now has us on the verge of Iran having a nuclear weapon, that is now exploding as they race towards full enrichment from twenty percent to sixty percent, on the verge of having a nuclear weapon and a nuclear arms race in the Middle East,” Waltz warned.
The hearing can be seen here.
