As millions of Egyptians rose up to depose the Muslim Brotherhood-backed Mohamed Morsi, Secretary of State John Kerry was on his private yacht, the State Department finally admitted Friday.
State Dept issues correction, acknowledges original @ report that Kerry was aboard his boat "briefly" in Nantucket Weds
State Department Admits John Kerry Was on His Boat During Egypt UprisingJuly 5, 2013 12:09pm via Twitter for iPhoneReplyRetweetFavorite
State Department Admits John Kerry Was on His Boat During Egypt Uprising
@Mosheh
Mosheh Oinounou
Yes, after vigorously denying reports that Kerry was on his private yacht during the uprising Wednesday, the State Department has issued a somewhat sheepish retraction.
“While he was briefly on his boat on Wednesday, Secretary Kerry worked around the clock all day including participating in the president’s meeting with his national security council,” spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.
The State Department was forced to admit Kerry was on his boat after the following photos were released by the Boston Herald:
State Department Admits John Kerry Was on His Boat During Egypt Uprising
Image source: Boston Herald
State Department Admits John Kerry Was on His Boat During Egypt Uprising
Image source: Boston Herald
Psaki continued, claiming Kerry also held calls “with Norwegian Foreign Minister Eade, Qatari Foreign Minister al-Attiyah, Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoglu, Egyptian Constitution Party President ElBaradei and five calls Ambassador Patterson on that day alone and since then he continued to make calls to leaders including Emirati Foreign Minister bin Zayed, Prime Minister Netanyahu and Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr.”
The State Department said none of the calls were made from his boat.
And just for good measure, let’s revisit Psaki’s original defense of Sec. Kerry [emphasis added]:
Since his plane touched down in Washington at 4 a.m., Secretary Kerry was working all day and on the phone dealing with the crisis in Egypt.
He participated in the White House meeting with the president by secure phone and was and is in non-stop contact with foreign leaders, and his senior team in Washington and Cairo. Any report or tweet that he was on a boat is completely inaccurate.
Yeah, the photos make that statement a little awkward.