Billionaire activist and 2020 presidential candidate Tom Steyer
Tom SteyerProgressive advocates propose T 'green stimulus' plan Candidates want data privacy rules, except for their own campaigns Budowsky: Biden should pull together a 'dream team of rivals' MORE on Sunday defended his past investments in fossil fuels and his recent entry into the Democratic race.
Steyer was asked on ABC's "This Week" about the investments his hedge fund had made in fossil fuels, though he has more recently spent millions of dollars to fight climate change.
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"In our business, we invested in every part of the economy, including fossil fuels," he said. "When I realized what a threat this was, I changed. I divested from all that stuff."
He added he "took a giving pledge" and asked "every American to do what I did."
Steyer also defended getting into the race after saying in January he wouldn't do so.
He said support for impeaching President Trump
Donald John TrumpCuomo grilled by brother about running for president: 'No. no' Maxine Waters unleashes over Trump COVID-19 response: 'Stop congratulating yourself! You're a failure' Meadows resigns from Congress, heads to White House MORE, a subject on which he has spent millions of dollars on national advertising, is growing.
Donald John TrumpCuomo grilled by brother about running for president: 'No. no' Maxine Waters unleashes over Trump COVID-19 response: 'Stop congratulating yourself! You're a failure' Meadows resigns from Congress, heads to White House MORE, a subject on which he has spent millions of dollars on national advertising, is growing.When ABC's Jonathan Karl pointed out support is for impeachment is still below 50 percent, Steyer said more public visibility would help the cause.
"Let the American people see the facts and let them judge. That hasn't happened. It is a failure of government," Steyer said.
