Calls Mount for John Kerry's Resignation for Leaking Ally's Intel to Iran
Joe Biden's 'special envoy' accused of leaking Israeli intelligence while Obama's SOS
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Joe Biden's "climate czar" John Kerry is facing mounting calls for his resignation after a leaked audio file emerged this week that alleges he gave Iran sensitive intelligence on U.S. ally Israel.
Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif claims in a leaked recording that Kerry, currently the Biden administration's Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, told him about secret Israeli operations being carried out in Syria.
According to Zarif, Kerry handed him intel exposing over 200 classified operations in Syria while serving as Obama's Secretary of State.
The audio file was obtained by The New York Times and other outlets.
Kerry shocked Zarif by revealing that Israel had attacked Iranian targets in Syria more than 200 times, according to the recording.
The revelation has prompted multiple calls from lawmakers for Kerry to resign.
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On Monday, Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) called for Kerry's resignation during a speech on the Senate floor.
"It’s become clear...that our adversaries, whether Beijing or Iran, like it when John Kerry is in charge of foreign policy and national security," Sullivan said.
"Why? Because they know how to use him to their advantage."
WATCH:
.@NYTimes & others are reporting John Kerry disclosed covert Israeli operations to Iran, the largest state sponsor of terror with the blood of thousands of US soldiers on its hands.
— Sen. Dan Sullivan (@SenDanSullivan) April 26, 2021
If this is true, it’s traitorous and Kerry needs to go. pic.twitter.com/RW2OPBPjUO
Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) also called for Kerry to resign if the reports are true.
If reports are accurate that John Kerry leaked intelligence about Israeli operations, he should resign. pic.twitter.com/9SeCqu6Kc5
— Rep. Mike Gallagher (@RepGallagher) April 26, 2021
"It’s unfathomable that any U.S. diplomat, past or present, would leak intelligence to the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism at the expense of one of our staunchest allies," Gallagher tweeted.
"If this report is accurate and he did leak intelligence, John Kerry should resign."
Sen. Rock Scott (R-FL) described the allegations as "deeply disturbing" while declaring that, "If true, he must resign."
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) called on Joe Biden to "immediately remove John Kerry from any government or advisory position."
"This is a criminal act and John Kerry must be immediately investigated and PROSECUTED," she added.
Former U.S. ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, described the allegations as "disgusting on so many levels."
Haley accused Kerry of "stabbing one of our greatest partners, Israel, in the back."
Meanwhile, the Biden administration is not commenting on the matter.
"That we don't comment on purportedly leaked material, of course, we can't vouch for the authenticity of it, for the accuracy of it, and so, of course, I'm not going to comment directly on what's on that tape on that recording," State Department spokesman Ned Ryan said Monday, Fox News’ Rich Edson reported.
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Kerry denied allegations on Monday evening, however.
In a Twitter post, Kerry called the claims "unequivocally false."
I can tell you that this story and these allegations are unequivocally false. This never happened - either when I was Secretary of State or since. https://t.co/BTOdFE1khW
— John Kerry (@JohnKerry) April 26, 2021
Kerry has previously been accused of colluding with Iran to undermine President Donald Trump during his presidency in an effort to ease relations between the U.S. and Iran.
Kerry has said he met with Zarif on at least two occasions during the Trump administration, for which Trump said he should be "prosecuted."
