Comer, Norman Raise Concerns About White House National Climate Advisor Violating Ethics Obligations

WASHINGTON—Today, House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer (R-Ky.) and Subcommittee on Environment Ranking Member Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) sent a letter to White House National Climate Advisor, Gina McCarthy, raising concerns she is not following ethics laws or President Biden’s ethics pledge. Recently released White House visitor logs reveal McCarthy attended a meeting where her former employer, the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), was present.

“According to recently released White House visitor logs, on October 25, 2021, you attended a meeting where Manish Bapna, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), was present. In accordance with President Biden’s Ethics Pledge, as the former President of NRDC, you may be barred from meeting with your former employer,” wrote the lawmakers. “The Biden Ethics Pledge requires each political appointee in every executive branch agency to sign the pledge and adhere to its order. With regard to former employers and clients, the Biden Ethics Pledge bars participation ‘in any particular matter involving specific parties that is directly and substantially related to my former employer or former clients, including relations and contracts’ for two years from the date of employment.  Your meeting with NRDC appears to violate this policy.”

In order to conduct oversight of this possible violation of the White House’s ethics pledge, the Republican lawmakers request a copy of McCarthy’s signed ethics pledge and all documents and communications related to contact with the NRDC.

The letter to Ms. McCarthy can be found here.