A vote to confirm Mike Pompeo as the new Secretary of State is expected soon in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. While the Trump administration has repeatedly advocated on Pompeo’s behalf, whether the vote will pass or fail is still uncertain.
Per NPR:
CIA Director Mike Pompeo is on track to make history this week, but probably not in the way his supporters envisioned.
The secretary of state-designate’s nomination is unlikely to be favorably recommended out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Monday night because no Democrat on the 11-10 panel supports his nomination, and neither does Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky.
“We’re going to vote on Monday night, and I agree with you that it doesn’t look promising as far as an affirmative vote,” Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker, R-Tenn., told reporters on Friday. He chalked up Democratic opposition to partisan election year politics, and not a statement on Pompeo’s qualifications.
“It’s just the environment we’re in. The left, the base on the Democratic side abhors the president, and I realize many of them just don’t want to do anything that shows a proxy of support for Trump by voting for his secretary of state,” Corker added, per the report. “I really do think Pompeo is highly qualified, and I think in their heart of hearts, truth serum wise, [Democrats] would probably agree.”
“Hard to believe Obstructionists May vote against Mike Pompeo for Secretary of State. The Dems will not approve hundreds of good people, including the Ambassador to Germany. They are maxing out the time on approval process for all, never happened before. Need more Republicans!” President Trump tweeted on Monday.
Hard to believe Obstructionists May vote against Mike Pompeo for Secretary of State. The Dems will not approve hundreds of good people, including the Ambassador to Germany. They are maxing out the time on approval process for all, never happened before. Need more Republicans!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 23, 2018
“In the over two century history of our republic no nominee for Secretary of State has ever received a negative vote from the Senate Foreign Relations committee. Given his qualifications & history of service, does Mike Pompeo really merit being the first that does? Of course not,” Senator Marco Rubio tweeted.
In the over two century history of our republic no nominee for Secretary of State has ever received a negative vote from the Senate Foreign Relations committee. Given his qualifications & history of service, does Mike Pompeo really merit being the first that does? Of course not.
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) April 23, 2018
“After meeting with Mike Pompeo, discussing his foreign policy perspectives, & considering his distinguished time as CIA Director & his exemplary career in public service, I will vote to confirm Mike Pompeo to be our next Secretary of State,” Senator Joe Manchin said.
After meeting with Mike Pompeo, discussing his foreign policy perspectives, & considering his distinguished time as CIA Director & his exemplary career in public service, I will vote to confirm Mike Pompeo to be our next Secretary of State.
— Senator Joe Manchin (@Sen_JoeManchin) April 23, 2018
While many of Rubio’s Republican colleagues have come out in favor of Pompeo, some others like Senator Rand Paul has announced he will vote against him. Per the Hill:
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is facing renewed pressure from President Trump and some of his Senate colleagues to support Mike Pompeo for secretary of State as the administration hunts for votes.
Paul’s opposition is complicating Pompeo’s path to confirmation. Republicans are hoping to pass his nomination next week before leaving town for a recess.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who frequently battles with Paul on foreign policy, vented Thursday about Paul’s opposition.
“I hope that Sen. Paul will reconsider because if he changed his view then this would be over, and it really does bother me,” he said. “He ran for president; I ran for president; Trump beat us both. … The election is over.”
The White House has also championed Pompeo’s previous accomplishments as to spur the Senate towards a confirmation vote.
The CIA under Director Mike Pompeo has been at the heart of some of the Trump Administration’s biggest foreign policy accomplishments. With the grave threats facing our country abroad, America needs him as our next Secretary of State. https://t.co/cIOr4j6tZr
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 22, 2018
Here’s more, from the White House:
In fact, the CIA under Director Pompeo has been at the heart of some of the Trump Administration’s biggest foreign policy accomplishments. The CIA helped preserve the integrity of North Korean sanctions, using creative, new methods to enable the interception of shipments that violate terms. The Agency also works with the Department of Defense and U.S. allies to target ISIS leadership and reduce ISIS territorial holdings—now down to virtually zero percent of its former caliphate.
Part of that success comes from proven experience. Mike Pompeo has been privy to some of America’s toughest national security challenges since 2010, when he served on the House Intelligence Committee as a freshman member of Congress. Two decades earlier, he patrolled the Iron Curtain as a U.S. Cavalry officer in West Germany before the Berlin Wall fell.
In truth, Pompeo was a leader long before he arrived in Washington. As a scholar, he graduated first in his class at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and later served as Editor of the Harvard Law Review. As an entrepreneur, he founded Thayer Aerospace, which provides components for commercial and military aircraft, and he served as its Chief Executive Officer for more than a decade.
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