Republicans ratchet up probes into Biden energy officials, climate policies
- June 5, 2023
Congressional Republicans intensified probes into the Biden administration over its energy and climate policies by demanding Monday that top officials disclose more information about potential ethics violations and impacts on the U.S. economy.
The House Natural Resources Committee asked Interior Secretary Deb Haaland to turn over any documents and communications with family members related to her duties that, Republicans say, could present conflicts of interest or run afoul of ethics rules.
The House Oversight Committee and the Senate Banking Committee’s GOP minority are seeking responses from Treasury Secretary Janey Yellen and Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler about whether the agencies coordinated with European authorities regarding climate-change policies that Republicans say could negatively impact the economy.
Ms. Haaland was already facing ethics questions and is in the midst of a legal battle to shield communications with her family. She skirted questions before the same committee in April about an unfulfilled public records request from the right-leaning watchdog Protect the Public’s Trust for documents related to her daughter’s activism and lobbying efforts. The group is suing the Interior Department and the Bureau of Land Management for records.