[ad_1]
Joseph R. Biden Jr. appeared to be momentarily caught unawares on Wednesday in a televised climate change forum, about whether a host of fundraising activities for him had ties to him. fossil fuel industry. Mr. Biden, who has pledged not to take money from oil and gas executives, has been questioned by a member of the audience about a fundraiser. costly dollars expected Thursday in New York with an executive named Andrew Goldman.
Mr. Biden denied that Mr. Goldman was a responsible officer for fossil fuels. The commitment he signed obliges him not to accept more than US $ 200 worth of "executives of companies in the fossil fuel sector appointed by the SEC". The former vice president told CNN host Anderson Cooper that Goldman was not on the list of leaders in the fossil fuel sector. corporate filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. "That's what we're looking at," said Biden.
Mr. Cooper, who seemed aware of the problem raised by the audience member, insisted that Mr. Goldman "had a company called Western LNG" which announced the construction of an offshore terminal in Western Canada destined for the export of natural gas. .
"Well, I did not know he was doing that," Biden said. "I'm going to look at what you just told me and find out if that's right."
Moments later, Symone D. Sanders, a senior advisor to the Biden campaign, tried to refute the suggestion that Mr. Goldman was an industry executive, writing on Twitter that he "did not participate not to the daily operation "of a fossil fuel. business. "He is not part of the board of directors of the company nor the board of directors of the portfolio company."
Mr. Goldman is co-host of the fundraiser Mr. Biden is to attend. Participants are invited to contribute $ 2,800, according to an invitation.
David Turnbull, a spokesman for the US Oil Change Group, implicated in the promise "No Money for Fossil Fuels" signed by Mr. Biden and other candidates, said that although the collector of funds with Mr Goldman "would not technically violate the promise" No money for fossil fuels ", as we have defined it, clearly goes against the spirit of the promise. "
"We have set the rules of the promise to make it easier for candidates and not provide loopholes for them to continue to raise funds from fossil fuel sources," said Turnbull.
In his plan to address the climate crisis, Biden calls for an end to fossil fuel subsidies and promises that his government would "act against fossil fuel companies and other polluters who make healthier profits, harm our environment and poison our communities. "air, land and water, or conceals information regarding potential risks to the environment and health."
The Biden campaign made no comment when asked if Mr. Biden, who is often reluctant to apologize to critics, always planned to attend fundraising. Late on Wednesday, the campaign announced that Biden would attend "financial events in New York" on Thursday, which, as usual, will be open to reporters representing the media pool.
At the end of Biden's Climate Debate, which brought together the top 10 candidates for the Democratic presidency, Mr. Cooper returned to the subject to say that Mr. Goldman "has no current day-to-day responsibility "in the gas exporter.
Biden said his campaign checked every contribution.
"My associates said that he had no responsibility to society," he said, referring to Mr. Goldman. "He was not part of the board of directors, he was absolutely not involved in the running of the company. But if that happens to be true, then I will not accept his help in any way. "
[ad_2]
Source link