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MAHATMA GANDHI ~ Truth never damages a cause that is just.
Wednesday, 18 January 2017
One Nation asked for Trump inauguration invitation, says foreign affairs
Department reveals embassy asked members of Congress about spare tickets after ‘multiple requests’ from Malcolm Roberts
Congressman Adam Kinzinger says he is just responding to a request from
the Australian embassy for a spare ticket and does not endorse any
Australian political party.
Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
Pauline Hanson
said it was an honour, but her invitation to Donald Trump’s
inauguration was organised by the Australian embassy after multiple
requests from One Nation, the foreign affairs department has revealed.
And according to a report by Buzzfeed the congressman who gave the tickets did not intend them as an endorsement of the Australian nationalist party.
On Monday Hanson, One Nation’s federal leader, said she had been
given tickets to Trump’s swearing-in as the US president on Friday but
had sent senator Brian Burston in her stead.
On Tuesday Burston told ABC Radio National the tickets came from Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger.
But Buzzfeed reported on Wednesday that Kinzinger, a congressman from
Illinois who spoke out against Trump during the election, had not
extended an invitation directly to One Nation.
“Our office received a request from the embassy of Australia and the
congressman accommodated that request,” a spokesperson for Kinzinger
reportedly said. “As such, we have given the tickets to the embassy to
use as they wish. The congressman does not endorse any political party
in Australia.”
In a statement on Wednesday the Department of Foreign Affairs and
Trade told Guardian Australia: “Following multiple requests from Senator
[Malcolm] Roberts, the embassy in Washington asked a number of
congressional offices if they had any spare tickets available.
“On 13 January, Congressman [Adam] Kinzinger’s office advised they
had two tickets available. The tickets are not yet available for
collection.”
Asked about Kinzinger distancing himself from the invitation, a
spokesman for Burston said “the congressman will be the one that hands
[the tickets] over” when Burston arrived. He said images of the
invitation were posted to the senator’s Facebook:
He also claimed the invitation “didn’t come through the Australian embassy”.
“It came via the former Trump campaign volunteer who works with Malcolm Roberts, Darren Brady Nelson.”
On Tuesday, in a radio interview with ABC Brisbane, Malcolm Turnbull addressed Hanson’s claim she was invited to Donald Trump’s inauguration and the fact he was not.
The prime minister said his understanding was it was not the practice
to invite foreign leaders such as himself and he “wouldn’t lose a
moment’s sleep” if a One Nation parliamentarian attended.
Turnbull appeared uncertain of what the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade had already confirmed, that Australia’s ambassador, Joe Hockey, would attend. Turnbull said Hockey would attend if other diplomats did.
* * * *
It says a lot about the character of Senator Malcolm Roberts by the way he hero worships Trump!
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