The pictures that prove Secretary of State John Kerry HAS been out on his boat while Egypt plunges into chaos - after his spokesman denied he had been sailing in Nantucket

  • New pictures show Kerry on kayak as he celebrates July 4 holiday
  • Secretary of State's aides retract denial that he had been sailing

By Jessica Jerreat

PUBLISHED: 15:55 EST, 5 July 2013 | UPDATED: 23:45 EST, 5 July 2013

John Kerry's spokesman has admitted that the Secretary of State did go sailing off Nantucket as the Egyptian President was ousted from power, after pictures emerged of him out on the water on July 4.

The Secretary of State had been criticized for taking a vacation with his family at his holiday home in Nantucket, as Egypt plunged into crisis.

New pictures of Mr Kerry on a kayak and a boat in Nantucket Sound on July 4 have now surfaced after his spokesman forcefully denied he went sailing after an earlier photo was posted to Twitter.

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Rough crossing: John Kerry is seen boarding a boat in Nantucket Sound on July 4

Rough crossing: John Kerry is seen boarding a boat in Nantucket Sound on July 4

Retraction: John Kerry's spokesman was forced to retract her denial that the Secretary of State has been enjoying water sports during the Egyptian crisis

Retraction: John Kerry's spokesman was forced to retract her denial that the Secretary of State has been enjoying water sports during the Egyptian crisis

'It doesn’t look good, and I think it sends the wrong message,' Republican strategist Brad Marston told the Boston Herald. 'If I were advising him, I’d already have him on a plane.'

Mr Kerry had already been spotted near July 4 festivities in the center of town earlier in the day, but the latest pictures showed him loading bags into a boat near his holiday home.

The State Department was forced to retract its denial that he had been sailing on Friday, conceding that Mr Kerry had taken his grandson out on the yacht for an hour on Wednesday. 

'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,' spokesman Jen Psaki said.

It is a reversal of her original statement, when Ms Psaki had said: 'Any report or tweet that he was on a boat is completely inaccurate.'

His aides even denied Mr Kerry was on a boat when CBS sent them a photo of the Secretary of State on board his yacht.

With the Egyptian military ousting President Morsi and violent deaths being reported in the country, many people in Nantucket were surprised to see Mr Kerry at his holiday home rather than in Washington.

Time out: As his presidential campaign started to go wrong in 2004 John Kerry was spotted wind surfing

Time out: As his presidential campaign started to go wrong in 2004 John Kerry was spotted wind surfing

'I would think the Secretary of State would interrupt his vacation and at least send a very clear signal - even by flying back to Washington for a day or two - that on our Independence Day we are very concerned about the freedom and democracy that we hope is instilled for some period of time in the Arab World,' Patrick Griffin, Republican strategist, said.

Mr Kerry's unexpected vacation has been charted on Twitter after residents started noting his moves around the town, which could have gone unnoticed if it wasn't for a video allegedly showing his motorcade getting stuck in traffic as he arrived earlier in the week.

 

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Despite admitting that he had gone sailing, his aides insisted that Mr Kerry had been in regular phone contact with world leaders and had taken part in White House meetings after the first democratically elected Egyptian president was ousted.

An aide to the Secretary of State, who had just returned from a 12-day tour of the Middle East, told the Boston Globe the earlier denial had been a result of 'confusion', and confirmed Mr Kerry had gone sailing with his grandson.

According to Ms Psaki he had spoken to leaders and diplomats in Egypt, Israel, Norway, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates - all while on vacation in Nantucket.

However, an aide said none of the phone calls were made while he was on his yacht, according to ABC News.

Mr Kerry has been criticized previously for taking to the water during difficult political times.

During his 2004 presidential election campaign he drew derision after being pictured wind surfing as his campaign fell apart.

Turmoil: Opponents of President Morsi celebrate his removal near the presidential palace in Cairo

Turmoil: Opponents of President Morsi celebrate his removal near the presidential palace in Cairo

Spotted: Massachusetts newspapers report seeing John Kerry in Nantucket as Egypt fell into crisis

Spotted: Massachusetts newspapers report seeing John Kerry in Nantucket as Egypt fell into crisis

VACATION TIMELINE

July 3: Vine video appears of John Kerry's motorcade getting stuck in traffic as he arrives at his holiday home with his daughters and their families.

CBS producer posts picture on Twitter claiming he has seen Mr Kerry on his yacht Isabel.

Mr Kerry's spokesman Jen Paksi denies he has been sailing, saying: 'Any report or tweet that he was on a boat is completely inaccurate.'

July 4: Nantucket residents spot Mr Kerry near festivities in the town in the morning.

In the afternoon he is seen moving bags from a kayak to a boat close to his holiday home.

July 5: An official statement is released saying: '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.'

Photos emerge of Mr Kerry taking to the water on July 4 but so far no statement has been made in relation them.

When the first claims that he was relaxing in Nantucket were made, Miss Psaki had said: 'Since his plane touched down in Washington at 4am, Secretary Kerry was working all day and on the phone dealing with the crisis in Egypt.'

Criticism of the Secretary of State began after a CBS producer refused to retract a tweet saying that he had seen Mr Kerry on his yacht, Isabel.

Mosheh Oinounou tweeted a photo of Isabel on Wednesday, and reported seeing Mr Kerry on board, according to CBS Boston.

Another tweet posted by another person in Nantucket, and allegedly sent at about 11.30am on Thursday, said: 'Watergun fight about to take place. John Kerry is apparently here ...'

Mr Kerry had been working closely with President Morsi and in May had authorized $1.3 billion in military aid to the country.

All U.S. Embassy staff and diplomats have since been ordered to leave Egypt as violent protests and clashes take place.

Since the head of Egypt's armed forces issued a declaration suspending the constitution and appointing the head of the constitutional court as interim head of state, the country has descended into chaos.

Thousands of Morsi supporters demonstrated in what his Muslim Brotherhood called a 'Friday of rage' against what they described as a military coup.

In Cairo, a crowd of Islamists surged across a bridge over the Nile River after nightfall and clashed with Morsi opponents near Tahrir Square and outside the state TV building.

Trouble forecast: A CBS producer tweeted to say he had spotted John Kerry on his yacht

Trouble forecast: A CBS producer tweeted to say he had spotted John Kerry on his yacht

Deal: John Kerry with President Morsi in March, two months before agreeing a large aid package for Egypt

Deal: John Kerry with President Morsi in March, two months before agreeing a large aid package for Egypt

Volatile: Thousands of protesters have been filling Cairo's streets after the president was ousted

Volatile: Thousands of protesters have been filling Cairo's streets after the president was ousted

 
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Nysarah, that's his job hun. He was hired to do something and he lied like many Americans do constantly it seems. But you're just ok with that. Not surprised at all.

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EXCUSE ME EGYPT IS NOT USA. What is the big deal? Do they want him to be in Egypt? How about the world always complaining that the USA meddles in their business. When the USA looks the other way then the world complains. You want us to help and then you don't. Well Kerry is not Egyptian - he is American. Until Egyptians want us to interfere, there is nothing we can do.

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A La Clinton and Benghazi?

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Kerry and his spokespeople are proven liars. Everything they say must be checked because Kerry lies about small things as well as big things. It doesn't even matter to him if the whole world knows he's lying. He is to Obama as Molotov was said to be to Stalin - willing to drop his drawers and sit on a block of ice until the boss said move.

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This man is unbelievable and we keep voting him to represent us. Why????

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the majority of what is wrong in America right now is the fault of the LAST President, not the current one. - September47, St. Louis, United States, 5/7/2013 22:02 ... I wasn't going to comment but I do feel obligated to remind you that the LAST president is actually the same as the current one ... Mr Obama is serving his second term!

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I have met John Kerry in a personal setting as a service provider. And he is very friendly, down to earth, and unpretentious. I have also written to him as a constituent for his help, and his office responded promptly and in a very helpful way. So it is very hard not to like him. Unfortunately, I don't -- like him. And I really do feel bad saying that. The problem is that he seems to believe in (and behaves as if in) an aristocracy. He would fit very nicely in the UK, if you ask me.

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Your tax dollars in action !

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WHY on earth to BO pick him? I dont' get this admin one bit. they pick idiots on purpose. .......... - Mari, Florida, United States, 5/7/2013 20:01 Where have you been Mari? It's been like this for almost six years and we have two nightmare years to go. Just imagine what is going to happen in the very near future. It ain't gonna be pretty.

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But for the love of God, in the second decade of the 21st century, the Secretary of State is supposed to hang around the Department of State?..... - Islander, Maritimes, Canada, 7/6/13 0:58 Yes. That's what we pay him for. I have to 'hang around' my job all day. That's what I get paid for. Kerry's job isn't to 'be aware' of what's going on. His job is to lead and manage what's going on. He can't lead from his boat. Get your sorry ass to work or get out of the way.

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