During Donald Trump’s first term, Richard Grenell was a bit of a rock star on the right, but that was a long time ago.
During Trump 47, Grenell has made several missteps, and the latest one just might put him in the unemployment line.
About a week ago, Joe St. Clair was released by Venezuela and sent back to the United States.
At the time, Special Envoy Richard Grenell stated, "Joe St. Clair is back in America.”
There were few details at the time, other than Venezuela had freed St. Clair on Antigua to be returned to the United States.
His parents responded, "This news came suddenly, and we are still processing it - but we are overwhelmed with joy and gratitude.” It turns out, there was a good reason they were caught off guard.
When the State Department and Trump White House were asked to comment on St. Clair’s return, no response was given, and now we know why.
It appears that Grenell never had clearance to retrieve St. Clair, but it gets even better.
Reports surfaced this week that Grenell has requested a reception at the White House with President Trump, but he was denied when Secret Service ran a check on St. Clair and found out he had warrants for his arrest in Texas.
One Trump official stated, “He [Grenell] was told no by Secret Service who alerted for White House staff that if this individual were to (come) to the White House, he would be arrested at the gate because of his outstanding warrants. Why the hell would we ever allow that to happen and embarrass the president?”
After Trump was elected, he rewarded Grenell with a post as his envoy for special missions, which is a fancy way of calling him an errand runner.
Grenell has made several missteps this time around, but none may be greater than his clash with Rubio over policy, which almost skuttled the entire spending bill now working its way through the Senate.
Rubio and Grenell were telling two different stories about an extension given to Chevron to produce and export Venezuelan oil. Trump revoked the license in February, and Chevron was due to wrap up operations by May 27, but Grenell said there was an extension, while Rubio insisted that was not the case. Grenell’s statement caused a rift in the GOP caucus, which nearly caused them to blow up the big, beautiful bill.
When you add all this up, it is a tough couple of months for Grenell, as we appear to have someone else in this administration talking off the cuff without actually having knowledge of the situation. Trump has a few of these people floating around, and with the American people making it very clear they don’t like politicians lying to them, I would recommend that Grenell get his act cleaned up or send him packing.
