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Press Releases
Rep. Ralph Norman and Rep. James Comer Question National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy on Suspected Breach of Ethical Standards
Washington, D.C.,
April 29, 2022
On Thursday, Subcommittee on Environment Ranking Member Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) and House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer (R-KY) sent a letter to President Biden’s National Climate Advisor (NCA), Gina McCarthy, questioning what appears to be a recent breach of ethical standards.
Background
President Biden requires each of his political appointees in every executive branch agency to sign and adhere to his Ethic’s Pledge. Specifically, the pledge prohibits participation “directly and substantially” related to former employers or clients.
Based on White House visitor logs, Ms. McCarthy seems to have attended a meeting in which Manish Bapna, President and Chief Executive officer of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), her former employer, was present.
Ranking Member Norman and Ranking Member Comer are requesting all documentation and communication between NCA McCarthy and the NRDC, calendar entries, and a copy of her signed ethics pledge in order to validate whether Ms. McCarthy is fulfilling her ethical obligation without violation in accordance to Biden’s Ethic’s Pledge.
Statements
"President Biden made it clear that the employees within the Executive Branch would be held to his Ethics Pledge," said Rep. Norman on Thursday. "Americans obviously expect someone serving on this level would refrain from using his or her position to unethically benefit a former employer, and it's important to ensure that wasn't the case here. I look forward to Ms. McCarthy's prompt response to this inquiry."
Rep. Comer added, “President Biden talks a big game when it comes to ethics at the White House, but his top climate advisor appears to ignore the rules. Gina McCarthy’s meeting with her former employer who pushes for radical Green New Deal policies may violate Biden’s Ethics Pledge and present conflicts of interest. We need answers about whether or not Gina McCarthy is meeting her ethics obligations.”
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