Skip to main content
Press Release Published: Jun 10, 2016

Second Subpoena Issued to State Department for Keystone Documents

WASHINGTON, D.C.— House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) released the following statement today after issuing a subpoena to Secretary of State John Kerry for documents and communications related to the Department’s determination that the Keystone XL pipeline would undercut U.S. leadership on climate change, among other things.

“The State Department is not cooperating with the Committee’s investigation. Producing mostly publicly available documents to the Committee and calling it responsive is pitiful. It demonstrates a contempt of Congress’ constitutional right to conduct oversight. We will use every tool available to obtain the information we need to properly and fully investigate this matter.”

Background:

On July 8, 2015, the Oversight Committee issued a subpoena to Secretary Kerry after the Department failed to respond to letters sent on February 24, 2015 and June 15, 2015 requesting documents. The Department produced documents in compliance with the subpoena. Upon review, Chairman Chaffetz and Interior Subcommittee Chairman Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) sent letters on February 24, 2016 and May 31, 2016  to Secretary Kerry requesting additional documents for further clarification.