After a last-minute reversal by Republican Sen. Rand Paul, Secretary of State nominee and former CIA Director Mike Pompeo was voted out of a Senate committee on Monday with a favorable recommendation, which means that a full vote on his nomination can take place.
Had Paul not dropped his initial objection to Pompeo‘s nomination, it would have been the first time in almost 100 years that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted against a Secretary of State nominee.
Pompeo was voted favorably out of the committee with an 11 to 9 vote, as Democratic Sen. Chris Coons voted “present” and Sen. Johnny Isakson voted via proxy. Paul’s “nay” vote would have left the floor tied and not advanced the recommendation out of committee.
“Having received assurances from President Trump and Director Pompeo that he agrees with the President on these important issues, I have decided to support his nomination to be our next Secretary of State,” Paul tweeted.
Having received assurances from President Trump and Director Pompeo that he agrees with the President on these important issues, I have decided to support his nomination to be our next Secretary of State.
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) April 23, 2018
The President said the Kentucky senator has “never let me down,” CNN reported.
Trump tweeted on Monday about the political divisiveness of the vote.
“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,” Trump tweeted.
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
After Paul announced that he was reversing his vote, Trump told reporters: “I said he’d never let us down.”
Democrats have said that Pompeo has an aggressive position on foreign policy but backs down to Trump.
Republicans have said that the Democrats’ obstruction isn’t about Pompeo, rather their distaste for the President.
Pompeo is a former congressman who graduated first in his class from West Point, and he has a Harvard law degree.
He has also recently had a secret meeting with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un.
