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President Biden appointed a senior official at Environmental Protection Agency who did not quit his job at a Hong Kong university – raising concern among members of Congress and a government watchdog group regarding the university’s ties to the Chinese government.
Chris Frey was appointed in february serve as the deputy deputy administrator for science policy in the EPA’s Office of Research and Development. In May, Frey disclosed that he was on leave without pay from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
“This appointment showed a lack of judgment on the part of the Biden administration,” Representative Ralph Norman, RS.C. “Frey will be one of the most senior officials at the EPA.”
Norman led a letter with four other Republicans on the House Reform and Oversight Committee, seeking information from the EPA on communications between Frey and the university since January 20; communications between Frey and the EPA regarding the Biden administration’s potential policy on China; and all communications between EPA ethics officers regarding Frey’s previous links with Chinese entities.
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“Instead of resigning from his post at HKUST, he is just taking time off, indicating that Dr Frey intends to return to work for HKUST after his service in the Biden administration,” the letter reads. At a time when the Biden administration is pushing for costly climate change ‘solutions’ that benefit China, this raises questions about why a senior EPA official has such strong ties to China, the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases. “
A banner at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Inset, Chris Frey. (Photo by Dickson Lee / South China Morning Post via Getty Images)
(Dickson Lee / South China Morning Post via Getty Images)
China accounts for 27% of global emissions greenhouse gas – most of any country. The United States comes far behind with 11%, followed by India with 6%.
“No one seems to have considered the emoluments clause. He is on leave. Why didn’t he quit? Norman added during the interview, referring to the clause in the US Constitution that prohibits a federal official from receiving anything of value from a foreign government entity or its representative.
The government watch group Protect public trust first obtained Frey’s declaration of ethical challenge on May 11 through the Freedom of Information Act. The group’s director, Michael Chamberlain, called the university “an arm of the Chinese government”.
Hong Kong universities have been would have suppress academic freedom among professors and students while supporting the Chinese Communist government. Specifically, Frey’s employer, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, suspended a group of students for hosting a memorial service for a student killed during the 2019 freedom protests against the Chinese government, The New York Times reported.
According to the EPA, Frey’s leave is nothing unusual.
“Dr Frey followed the EPA’s ethical guidelines and correctly disclosed his affiliation with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology,” EPA spokesman Timothy Carroll told Fox News in an email.
“In accordance with White House policy on multiple administrations, persons appointed for political reasons (except those appointed by the Senate) are allowed to be absent from an academic institution during their tenure in government, at provided the required challenges are in place to avoid a potential or actual conflict of interest, “Carroll continued.” Dr. Frey has executed the appropriate statement of challenge and will continue to follow the advice of ethics officials. “
The EPA online biography of Frey refers to his post as Glenn E. and Phyllis J. Futrell Distinguished Professor at North Carolina State University, but makes no mention of the University of Hong Kong. Frey has previously worked on EPA Clean Air and Science Advisory Boards and Committees.
Norman, the congressman from South Carolina, said the omission is another example of a lack of transparency on the part of the Biden administration.
Frey statement of ethical challenge in May, said he took two years of unpaid leave of absence from his assistant post at Hong Kong University – as well as his full-time faculty post at North Carolina State University – after a discussion with EPA legal counsel’s office.
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“I have been informed by OGC / Ethics that I have a financial interest in North Carolina State University (State of North Carolina) and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) d ‘where I took a two-year unpaid leave. “Frey wrote in the statement of recusal to the EPA.
“Therefore, I cannot participate personally and substantially in any particular matter which, to my knowledge, has a direct and foreseeable effect on the financial interests of one or the other entity unless I obtain first a written waiver or that my participation is authorized by a regulatory exemption. “
The recusal statement goes on to mention other entities, such as consultancy work for the Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department.
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