McCain, Graham Say They Will Back Tillerson's Nomination for State
January 22 2017 - 12:52PM
Dow Jones News
By Andrew Ackerman and Harriet Torry
WASHINGTON -- U. S. Sens. John McCain and Lindsey Graham said
Sunday they would support Rex Tillerson's nomination to head the
State Department, all but clearing a path through the Senate for
the former Exxon Mobil Corp. chief executive.
Mr. McCain (R., Ariz.) and Mr. Graham (R., S.C.) had for weeks
expressed concerns about Mr. Tillerson's ties to senior members of
the Russian government.
A third Senate Republican, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, is widely
seen as the key vote on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee,
where Republicans hold a one-vote majority. But even if Mr.
Tillerson isn't approved by the committee to be secretary of state,
his nomination could still be considered by the full Senate -- a
rare, but not unheard procedural tactic.
"After careful consideration, and much discussion with Mr.
Tillerson, we have decided to support his nomination to be
Secretary of State," Mr. McCain and Mr. Graham said in a statement.
"Though we still have concerns about his past dealings with the
Russian government and President Vladimir Putin, we believe that
Mr. Tillerson can be an effective advocate for U.S. interests."
Separately, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) on
Sunday predicted the Senate would confirm all of President Donald
Trump's cabinet picks, despite Democratic lawmakers'
objections.
"I believe we'll be able to confirm the president's entire
cabinet," Mr. McConnell said on Fox News Sunday, adding there is
"great enthusiasm" for the picks.
In the full Senate, cabinet nominees need a simple-majority vote
to win confirmation, a threshold Republicans, who hold 52 seats,
will likely meet in most if not all cases.
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D., N.Y.) this week
criticized Mr. Trump's picks, telling reporters the new president
was setting up a "swamp cabinet full of bankers and
billionaires."
Mr. McConnell said Republicans would overcome Democratic
objections.
The Senate on Friday confirmed two of Mr. Trump's nominees,
retired Gen. James Mattis to lead the Department of Defense and
retired Marine Gen. John Kelly to head the Department of Homeland
Security. But Democrats insisted on more time for a floor debate on
Rep. Mike Pompeo (R., Kan.), who has been nominated to lead the
Central Intelligence Agency to Monday.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
January 22, 2017 12:37 ET (17:37 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2017 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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