Sen. Bond calls for hearing into Jones' "divisive" behavior

Sen. Kit Bond (R-Mo.) is now calling for an oversight hearing to probe "the behavior and comments" of green jobs czar Van Jones, the senator announced on Friday.

Bond, the ranking member of the Green Jobs and the New Economy Subcommittee, noted in his letter to Chairman Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.) that his goal was "to reassure the American people that their government is safe from [Jones'] divisive, incendiary and ultimately counterproductive sentiments." 

"Refusal to conduct an oversight hearing by the Subcommittee would heighten concern over whether this administration is committed to mainstream, inclusive, positive leadership and policies," Bond said, noting in an accompanying press release that Jones was never subject to Senate scrutiny because he was appointed as "czar." "While we may differ in our policy prescriptions to protect the environment and spur job creation, I hope you will agree that the Senate and our Subcommittee have a responsibility to ensure that administration stewards of taxpayer funds and government policy are capable of the jobs entrusted to them."

Bond's request for a hearing arrives during a week in which Jones has fielded significant criticism for statements he made and positions he took prior to joining the Obama administration. One video, revealed at the beginning of the week, shows Jones calling Republicans "a**holes." Another, which surfaced on Friday, depicts the green jobs czar labeling former President George W. Bush a "crackhead."

Most painstaking for Bond is the revelation that Jones had signed a "truther" petition suggesting Bush had covered up facts about Sept. 11. While the green jobs czar apologized for his signature earlier this week, assuring he never shared that view, his apology has not satisfied Bond, who labeled the incident "repulsive."

"Of course Mr. Jones in hindsight is embarrassed by the public disclosure of his participation in the petition drive and now asserts he did not read the fine print of the petition," Bond said. "Even if true, how can the American people trust a senior White House official that is so cavalier in his association with such radical and repugnant sentiments?”

The oversight hearing Bond demands -- and Sanders has not yet responded to -- cannot strip Jones of his position. But the goal seems to be to intimidate Jones to relinquish his spot on the Council on Environmental Quality. The White House, however, said on Thursday that it stands by its green jobs czar.