A representative for the Energy Department emphasized Secretary Jennifer Granholm’s unwavering dedication to upholding the utmost ethical standards, reassuring Fox News Digital.
However, in a letter addressed to Congress, Granholm made a shocking admission. She confessed to misleading the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee about her stock ownership.
While Granholm had indeed sold interests in several companies in 2021, she acknowledged in her letter that she still held equity in six businesses. On April 20, under oath, she had previously stated that she had divested from all publicly traded companies.
According to the letter shared with Fox News Digital, Granholm clarified, “During the confirmation process before this Committee in 2021, I divested from assets that could pose conflicts with my official duties.” She added, “However, I retained assets that government ethics officials determined would not impede my official responsibilities.”
Granholm explained that when questioned about her stock holdings, she falsely claimed to have none, but she meant that she had none that might create conflicts of interest. She then disclosed that on May 18, 2023, she sold her remaining stock holdings in six companies, despite them being deemed non-conflicting, to align her financial holdings with her testimony.
Although Granholm didn’t specify the companies she previously owned shares in or the ones she sold on May 18, she promised to provide that information in her next annual public financial disclosure report.
Furthermore, Granholm revealed that she became aware of her spouse’s ownership of Ford Motor Company shares worth $2,457.89 through a May 13 article. The stock was promptly sold on May 15.
Granholm admitted her misunderstanding of the timeline regarding her family’s divestment of Ford stock, which led to its omission from her previous financial disclosure reports. She shared that she and her husband had sold all Ford shares in their retirement funds on March 22, 2021.
“As a public servant, I hold myself accountable to the highest ethical standards, and I regret the unintentional omission of my spouse’s interest in Ford,” Granholm expressed. “I made this commitment to you, Mr. President, and more importantly, to the people of the United States of America.”
Granholm assured that both she and her husband diligently reviewed their financial records to ensure no further omissions in her financial disclosure report.
In response to the letter, Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), the ranking member of the Senate committee on energy and natural resources, criticized Granholm’s actions.
Barrasso voiced his concerns in an interview with Fox News Digital, stating, “Secretary Granholm misled the committee about her family’s stock holdings. This displays a disregard for ethical standards and transparency protocols. It’s becoming a troubling pattern that cannot be overlooked.”
Granholm committed to filing a Public Financial Disclosure Periodic Transaction Report in July, which will detail all the mentioned transactions in her letter.
An Energy Department spokeswoman assured Fox News Digital that Granholm remains dedicated to upholding the highest ethical standards. The spokesperson emphasized Granholm’s commitment to transparency and leading the Department of Energy with the best interests of the American people as a priority, as reflected in her letter to Congress.