Outrage over Energy Sec. Jennifer Granholm Charge U.S. Can’t Claim ‘Moral Authority’ Against China — ‘Embarrassing and Wrong’

Jennifer Granholm, U.S. Energy Secretary, speaks during a roundtable discussion on May 3, 2021 at Howard University in Washington, D.C. The event was held to discuss the need for diversity in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and outline investments in President Biden's American Jobs Plan that

PENNY STARR

20 Oct 2021247

Conservatives reacted with outrage to Energy Sec. Jennifer Granholm’s remarks about the United States lacking “moral authority” over China because of its contribution to so-called man-made climate change.

During a round-table discussion last week in Grand Forks, North Dakota, Granholm made a direct comparison between communist China when it comes to pollution.

“You know, we’ve got a global problem and China is a big contributor to that — we are, too,” Granholm said. “And we don’t have much moral authority to say you should be doing this if we are not taking action and deploying the technology that we need to deploy.”

“Embarrassing and wrong: @SecGranholm in North Dakota likens America’s climate standards to China, saying we lack the “moral authority” to call them out for polluting unless we pass President Biden’s radical, liberal climate agenda,” Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) said in a tweet.

“Despite what liberals like @SecGranholm want you to believe, our innovators have made significant strides in reducing our carbon footprint,” Cramer said in a followup tweet. “The Chinese Communist Party has not, and it’s shown no real interest in doing so.”

“The U.S. absolutely has the moral authority to call out Communist China for its predatory actions—and we must do so. Communist China is our strategic adversary, and we have a duty to confront them from a position of strength,” Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) said.

The Republican House Select Climate Committee criticized Granholm’s comments on social media.

“Really, @SecGranholm? Since 2005, the United States has decreased emissions by a billion tons while China has INCREASED by 5 billion tons – leading the world in emissions growth,” the committee’s official twitter account posted. “Not to mention, China’s green energy supply chain is built on the backs of slave labor.”

The New York Post reported on the reaction to Granholm comparing the U.S. with communist China, which is, in fact, is opening new coal mines and already operates thousands across that country.

“China is planning to build 43 new coal-fired power plants and 18 new blast furnaces — equivalent to adding about 1.5% to its current annual emissions — according to a new report. The new projects were announced in the first half of this year despite the world’s largest polluter pledging to bring its emissions to a peak before 2030, and to make the country carbon neutral by 2060,” Time magazine reported.

Granholm, the former governor of Michigan, is one of those 13 of President Joe Biden’s cabinet who are traveling to the United Nations upcoming climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland.

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https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2021/10/20/outrage-over-energy-sec-jennifer-granholm-charge-u-s-cant-claim-moral-authority-against-china-embarrassing-and-wrong/

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/ceo-major-defense-contractor-charged-bribery

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, October 18, 2021

CEO of Major Defense Contractor Charged with Bribery

The chief executive officer (CEO) of Multinational Logistics Services (MLS), a large ship husbanding company that has received over $1 billion in U.S. Navy contracts since 2010, appeared in the United States today to face a criminal charge for his alleged participation in a bribery scheme.

According to the affidavit in support of a criminal complaint filed in September, Frank S. Rafaraci, 68, a U.S. citizen who resides abroad, has been the CEO of MLS since at least 2005. MLS is a defense contractor that provides ship husbanding services, such as refueling and stocking provisions, to U.S. Navy ships at ports worldwide. From approximately 2010 to the present, the U.S. Navy, other U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) components, and U.S. government civilian agencies awarded husbanding services contracts to MLS worth approximately $1.3 billion. The affidavit further alleges that, beginning in 2011, Rafaraci was involved in a wide-ranging scheme to bribe U.S. Navy officials, defraud the U.S. Navy using falsely inflated invoices, and launder the proceeds of the scheme through shell companies Rafaraci had set up in the United Arab Emirates, all in an effort to benefit MLS. Rafaraci made his initial appearance earlier today before U.S. Magistrate Judge G. Michael Harvey of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

“Frank Rafaraci allegedly defrauded the Navy, bribed a Navy official, and laundered money through foreign bank accounts for years,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Criminal Division remains committed to combating fraud and corruption in defense contracting around the world.”

“This defendant is alleged to have engaged in a wide-ranging scheme to defraud the U.S. Navy and bribe public officials for his own gain,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips of the District of Columbia. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to pursue and hold accountable those that seek to take advantage of our military through corruption and fraud.”

“The criminal case against Rafaraci is the result of painstaking investigative efforts by the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) agents, and our partner agencies,” said Special Agent in Charge Stanley A. Newell of the DCIS Transnational Operations Field Office. “Let today’s action serve as a sobering reminder to those who seek to enrich themselves at the expense of the U.S. military and American taxpayers. DCIS is resolutely committed to ensuring the integrity of the DoD’s global procurement operations.”

“Rafaraci’s alleged long-running criminal scheme to defraud the Federal government through bribery, falsified invoices, and money laundering cheated the U.S. taxpayer and wasted tremendously valuable resources,” said Special Agent in Charge Eric Maddox of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Economic Crimes Field Office. “NCIS and our law enforcement partners remain steadfast in our commitment to root out bribery and corruption that threaten to diminish the operational readiness and warfighter superiority of the Navy and Marine Corps.”

“Rafaraci allegedly defrauded the military and laundered the proceeds of his crimes,” said Special Agent in Charge Ryan L. Korner of IRS Criminal Investigation’s (IRS-CI) Los Angeles Field Office. “IRS-CI Special Agents once again showed their unwavering commitment to ensuring those who cheat the system are brought to justice. IRS-CI is dedicated to protecting the revenue and ensuring the process for awarding government contracts remains fair for everyone.”

Rafaraci was indicted by a grand jury in the District of Columbia on Sept. 30, and charged with one count of bribery. If convicted of that charge, Rafaraci faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Rafaraci was provisionally arrested in Malta on Sept. 27, 2021, at the request of the United States. Proceedings in Malta concluded upon his voluntary return to the United States on Oct. 18.

https://twitter.com/nypost/status/1451019581858930689

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White bunny power?