Second Letter to Condoleezza Rice Seeks Answers on Hunt Oil Contract

October 12, 2007
The Honorable Condoleezza Rice
Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20520
Dear Secretary Rice,  
In the ten days that have passed since I contacted you about Hunt Energy’s controversial contract with the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG), new information has surfaced about communications between the State Department and Hunt Energy. As noted in my previous letter, on September 8th the Associated Press reported Hunt Energy signed an oil exploration contract with Kurdistan that has the potential to undermine Iraqi and American national interests. Ray Hunt is the CEO of Energy and serves the Administration as a member of the President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board. Hunt Energy denied discussing the deal with the United States government. Now State Department documents have surfaced that apparently contradict these claims. Based on these documents, United Press International reported that Hunt employees spoke to US Agency for International Development (USAID) staff about Hunt Energy plans to sign an exploration contract. (Ben Lando. “Analysis: Hunt, State talked on Iraq Oil.” United Press International, October 12, 2007.)
I ask that you respond to my previous letter without delay and respond to the additional queries below:
1.    Please provide a timeframe for (a) when the State Department learned of Hunt Energy’s intentions to sign a contract with KRG, (b) all communications between Hunt Energy and US government officials concerning this contract, and (c) when the contract was signed.
2.    Please provide copies of all communications between Hunt Energy and US AID officials, including emails, letters, summaries of meetings, or any other form of communication from July 15-October 10, 2007 regarding this matter.
3.    Did other employees or representatives of the federal government have contact with Hunt Energy or its representatives during the period of July 15th through October 10, 2007? If so, please provide copies of such communications, including emails, letters, summaries of meetings, or any other form of communication regarding this matter.
4.    Is the State Department investigating communications about the oil exploration deal between Hunt Oil and US agency officials? What is the status of this investigation?
The Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming is seeking prompt answers to these and our previous questions. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Please respond to the questions above within the next thirty days. If you have any questions, please contact Danielle Baussan or Jeff Duncan at 202-225-4012.
Sincerely,


Edward J. Markey
Chairman

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