Iowa GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley is asking the State Department to release additional information detailing the personal finances of President Biden’s special envoy for climate, John Kerry, and any potential conflicts of interest he has between his official duties and private investments.
Grassley sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday asking his department to specify what Kerry is barred from working on due to potential conflicts of interest.
The request follows Axios reporting Friday that Kerry disclosed millions of dollars in income from finance and energy firms.
In Grassley’s letter, the senator said it is “unclear exactly what matters Mr. Kerry has been barred from working on and whether he has received any waivers for specific matters that he would otherwise be recused from.”
Grassley, the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, is asking the department to hand over all emails, memorabilia and documents about all potential conflicts of interest. Grassley gave the department a deadline of May 17 to get him documents.
Among the finances Kerry disclosed were a $5 million salary from Bank of America after his stint in the Obama administration; $382,000 in speaking fees from Deutsche Bank, Waste Management and Cornell University; and $125,000 in consulting fees from The Rise Fund, an investment firm dedicated to renewable and sustainable energy.
