John Kerry angered by private jet inquiry, faces scrutiny under oath.

President Joe Biden‘s Climate Czar John Kerry Clashes with Republican Lawmaker Over Private Jets

In a fiery exchange during a House subcommittee hearing, Republican Representative Cory Mills (R-FL) took a jab at John Kerry, President Joe Biden’s climate czar, regarding his use of private jets. Mills quipped, “I hope it wasn’t too problematic for your operational team and your private jet to get here.”

Kerry, known for his advocacy against global warming, did not take the comment lightly. He responded, “I just don’t agree with your facts, which began with the presentation of one of the most outrageously persistent lies that I hear, which is this private jet. We don’t own a private jet. I don’t own a private jet. I personally have never owned a private jet. And obviously it’s pretty stupid to talk about coming in a private jet from the State Department up here. Honestly, if that’s where you want to go, go there.”

John Kerry: “We don’t own a private jet. I don’t own a private jet. I’ve personally have never owned a private jet. And, obviously, it’s pretty stupid to talk about coming in a private jet from the State Department up here. Honestly, if that’s where you want to go, go there!” pic.twitter.com/yEOmMsfoKK

— CSPAN (@cspan) July 13, 2023

The discussion continued as Representative Michael Waltz (R-FL) pressed Kerry further on the issue. Waltz reminded Kerry that he was under oath and entered into the record a Fox News report from February that revealed Kerry’s family had sold their private jet, a Gulfstream GIV-SP, after it garnered attention for its frequent trips and significant carbon dioxide emissions since the start of the Biden administration.

REP. WALTZ: “You just testified under oath that you never owned a private jet…”

CLIMATE ENVOY JOHN KERRY: “My wife owned a plane. […] I do not fly on a private jet. I fly commercially…”

REP. WALTZ: “Have you flown a private jet in a personal or official capacity since… pic.twitter.com/4aIzab8Yev

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) July 13, 2023

When asked if he stood by his testimony, Kerry clarified that his wife, Teresa Heinz, the heiress to the Heinz ketchup fortune, owned a plane. Kerry stated that he primarily travels on commercial flights but admitted to taking some military flights and possibly one trip on a private jet in a personal or official capacity since assuming the role of climate czar.

Addressing concerns of hypocrisy, Kerry emphasized, “We’re not asking Americans not to fly. You’re trying to create an unequal thing. We’re not saying, ‘Don’t fly.'” He also expressed his willingness to provide Congress with records of his official, taxpayer-funded travel.

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