Energy Sec. Granholm dodges questions on gas crisis as aides whisk her away, block camera: video

Power Secretary Jennifer Granholm refused to reply questions from a Fox Information reporter on Wednesday whereas her aides scrambled to push reporters away in an altercation that was caught on video.

“Hello, Secretary Granholm,” Fox Information Senior Political Editor Andrew Murray requested the secretary as she walked down a hallway flanked by her aides following her speech at CERAWeek by S&P World in Houston. Granholm recoiled in shock as Murray tried to ask her a query about Iran and gasoline costs.

FORMER KEYSTONE PIPELINE WORKER SAYS US ENERGY CRISIS IS RESULT OF BIDEN’S POLICIES: ‘WE TRIED TO WARN YOU’

“Is there any discuss bringing Iran again to the desk due to gasoline costs,” Murray requested.

Granholm continued strolling whereas her press secretary, Charisma Troiano, requested reporters to direct inquiries to her as an alternative of Granholm whereas aides bodily blocked reporters from getting near the vitality secretary. 

Each Granholm and Troiano refused to reply a number of questions together with one other query from Murray about growing pipelines in the US with Troiano saying that she would deal with the questions later.

At one level, a digital camera operator could possibly be seen and heard bumping right into a podium because the group chaotically handed by way of the venue.

PSAKI CLAIMS KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE WOULD MAKE NO DIFFERENCE FOR RISING GAS PRICES

Shortly after Murray recognized himself as a journalist with Fox Information Digital, one other aide positioned a folder in his face blocking his mobile phone digital camera.

The Division of Power didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark from Fox Information relating to the incident and the solutions to the questions Murray requested had not obtained any solutions from Troiano on the time of publication of this text.

“On this second of disaster we want extra provide,” Granholm instructed attendees throughout her speech. “Proper now we want oil and gasoline manufacturing to rise to satisfy present demand.”

Granholm stated the Biden administration has been reaching out to companions world wide to attempt to encourage extra output.

The Biden administration has been broadly criticized by Republicans and Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin for not publicly calling for elevated vitality manufacturing in the US amid Russia’s disruption of the oil markets whereas additionally downplaying the necessity for the Keystone XL pipeline.

“If we’re making an attempt to result in extra provide that doesn’t deal with any drawback,” White Home Press Secretary Jen Psaki stated in response to a query in regards to the pipeline Wednesday. “The pipeline is only a supply mechanism – it’s not an oil discipline, so it doesn’t present extra provide into the system.”

UNITED STATES – MARCH 8: Fuel costs are displayed exterior an Exxon station in Washington on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. (Invoice Clark/CQ-Roll Name, Inc by way of Getty Photos)
(Getty Photos)

When pressed additional on whether or not restarting the pipeline is one thing the White Home is contemplating, Psaki stated: “There’s no plans for that, and it might not deal with any of the issues we’re having at present.”

The Keystone XL would have moved about 840,000 barrels of Canadian oil per day throughout the US to Texas for refining and sale. US imports of Russian oil peaked at about 800,000 barrels per day in 2021. Biden canceled the pipeline by way of govt order throughout his first days within the Oval Workplace. 

Reuters contributed to this report.