On Friday, Republican Senator from Arkansas Tom Cotton released a statement slamming Senate Democrats for obstructing the confirmation of Congressman Mike Pompeo as the next Director of the CIA. Sen. Cotton also pointed out a finger at one of the Senators leading the charge against Pompeo’s confirmation saying he hopes for his sake that “the jihadists take the weekend off from trying to kill Americans.”
“Hundreds of thousands of Americans are in Washington this weekend at a designated special national-security event, yet the Democrats are obstructing the nomination of Mike Pompeo as CIA Director for no good reason,” Sen. Cotton said.
“For Senator Wyden’s sake, I hope the jihadists take the weekend off from trying to kill Americans,” he continued.
On Friday, Democratic Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., banned together to delay the confirmation, saying that Senators need time to debate the nomination.
“No CIA Director in history has ever been confirmed on Inauguration Day,” the statement said. “The importance of the position of CIA Director, especially in these dangerous times, demands that the nomination be thoroughly vetted, questioned and debated. Moreover, the Agency is capable of protecting the nation and serving the president under the leadership of its senior professional personnel. Certainly the incoming administration acknowledges that this would be consistent with their decision to hold over 50 current administration national security appointees. Our constituents expect Congress to be a check and balance on the incoming administration, not a rubber stamp.”
New York Democrat Senator Chuck Schumer has also pledged that “there’s going to be a thorough debate.”
Donald Trump’s first stop as President on Saturday was to the CIA headquarters in Virginia. Trump’s Presidential Counselor, Kellyanne Conway, went on NBC’s Meet The Press on Sunday and commented on the President’s visit without Pompeo.
“He thought he was going to witness the swearing in of his CIA Director, Mike Pompeo. But you know that did not happen…. because the United States Senate won’t confirm Mike Pompeo as CIA Director,” Conway said.
“Ask Senator Schumer why,” she continued. “Donald Trump as President has nominated 21 of the 21 cabinet positions, only to have two…. confirmed while he takes office.”
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