Senate panel narrowly backs Tillerson for top diplomat
Trump's pick for secretary of state okayed by a party line vote of 11 to 10 despite reservations from GOP lawmakers
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee narrowly approved on Monday President Donald Trump’s choice for secretary of state, former oil executive Rex Tillerson, clearing the way for his confirmation vote by the full chamber.
The panel voted along party lines, 11-10, to recommend Tillerson’s nomination to the full Senate, where the former chief executive of Exxon Mobil is almost certain to be confirmed by the Republican-led chamber.
Sen. Bob Corker, the committee’s Republican chairman, said he has “no doubt” Tillerson is well-qualified, citing his leadership of the energy giant.
But Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland, the panel’s top Democrat, opposed Tillerson. Cardin said Tillerson’s responses to questions about sanctions against Russia and other important global issues sounded more like answers a corporate executive would give instead of a prospective secretary of state.
Three Republican senators — John McCain, Marco Rubio and Lindsey Graham — have expressed deep reservations about Tillerson’s position on human rights and his past dealings with Russia, but they have since announced their support for the nominee, all but guaranteeing he will win confirmation by the full Senate.
Rubio said he still had concerns about Tillerson’s positions on human rights.
But he stressed that given the “uncertainty” about the direction of US foreign policy, “it would be against our national interests to have this confirmation unnecessarily delayed or embroiled in controversy.”
With just two of Trump’s cabinet members in place — Secretary of Defense James Mattis and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly — Senate Republicans have sought to speed up confirmation of his other nominees, including his choice to head the CIA.
The Senate was expected to confirm Mike Pompeo as head of the spy agency later Monday.
Republicans were also hoping to get Trump’s pick for US attorney general, Senator Jeff Sessions, installed swiftly.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote on Sessions on Tuesday, when the Foreign Relations Committee votes on South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley’s nomination to be US ambassador to the United Nations.
Republicans hold 52 seats in the 100-seat Senate. A simple majority is required for confirmation of cabinet positions.