Senate tick likely for Pompeo’s selection but others less certain

UNITED STATES: Mike Pompeo, President Donald Trump’s choice for secretary of state, avoided a rare rebuke yesterday as the Senate foreign relations committee narrowly recommended him, but the vote served as a warning shot to the White House, as nominees to lead the CIA and Veterans Affairs are hitting stiff resistance.

Pompeo, who is currently CIA director, received the panel’s approval only after Trump’s lastminute overtures to Republican Senator Rand Paul.

Pompeo’s nomination now goes to the full Senate, where votes are tallying in his favour and Majority Leader Mitch Mcconnell has said he is looking forward to voting to confirm him later this week.

Trump has been quick to fire his top cabinet secretaries, but Senate Democrats have not been not so fast to confirm replacements. A grilling is expected tomorrow of Ronny Jackson, the White House physician nominated to head Veterans Affairs. Pompeo’s potential replacement at the CIA, Gina Haspel, is also facing scrutiny.

It is also a reminder of how tough it could be to replace Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. Trump has publicly mused about firing Rosenstein, who is overseeing special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

‘‘Hard to believe,’’ Trump tweeted yesterday about what he called ‘‘obstruction’’.

‘‘The Dems will not approve hundreds of good people . . . They are maxing out the time on approval process for all, never happened before. Need more Republicans!’’ Republicans hold just a slim Senate majority, 50-49, with the prolonged absence of Arizona Senator John Mccain.

Pompeo’s bid to become the nation’s top diplomat was in the hands of a few senators, but received a boost yesterday when two Democrats, Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Joe Donnelly of Indiana, announced their support.

Pressure is mounting on the senators from all sides. White House allies are unloading advertising campaigns against Democrats from states Trump won, but progressive groups are lobbying senators’ offices in opposition. As soon as Democrat Senator Heidi Heitkamp announced her support for Pompeo, one group called on her to switch.

Ahead of the foreign relations committee’s vote, chairman Bob Corker said of the full Senate: ‘‘It does appear Mike Pompeo has the votes to be secretary of state.’’

Paul’s earlier objections to Pompeo, along with overwhelming opposition from Democrats, had set the secretary of state nominee on track to be the first since 1925, when the committee started keeping records, not to receive a favourable recommendation. –AP