Jonathon Berman, jonathon.berman@sierraclub.org
Washington, DC -- Today, the Washington Post reported that Donald Trump has fired Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, choosing to replace him with Koch Brothers backed CIA Director Mike Pompeo. Pompeo has been referred to as the “Koch Brothers Congressman” and “the Congressman from Koch,” as he has done their bidding, including once introducing legislation to block the EPA from safeguarding communities from chemical plants. Pompeo has accused President Obama of being “disloyal” to Christians and America, and, like Trump, has embraced anti-Muslim rhetoric.
In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune released the following statement:
“Selecting Mike Pompeo as Secretary of State means Donald Trump wants to turn our global diplomatic efforts over from Exxon to the Koch Brothers. Pompeo’s confirmation would mean a politician who has consistently attacked science, pushed hateful ideology, and backed anti-democratic policies to restrict the voting rights of millions would be the face of our nation around the world. That would not just be a contradiction of our country’s values, it would be dangerous to our national security and the health of our planet.
“Every single other world leader accepts climate science and every single other nation wants to be a part of the Paris Agreement, yet Trump wants to give the stewardship of our international relations to an extremist. In Congress, Mike Pompeo proved he is dangerous to the health and safety of families in the United States. In this position, he could prove to be dangerous to our national security and the safety of our planet. The Senate must reject Mike Pompeo.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.