Chief diplomat battle intensifies
Nominee Pompeo might not receive nod from Senate panel
WASHINGTON — The White House started turning up the heat and pointing fingers Wednesday in a bid to bolster CIA chief Mike Pompeo’s confirmation as secretary of state next week — a sign that Pompeo’s ascent may be in trouble.
President Donald Trump disclosed on Twitter that Pompeo had met secretly with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un — which puts pressure on the Senate to confirm Pompeo so the president can have his designated top diplomat at the table when he meets with the North Korean strongman, possibly in June.
The White House held a telephone briefing with counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway and Sen. Tom Cotton, R-ark., to discuss the challenges ahead. Conway argued that Pompeo’s success should be bipartisan as he is “eminently qualified,” has been lauded for improving morale at the CIA and won confirmation as the top guy at Langley with bipartisan support. (Fifteen Democrats supported Pompeo’s CIA confirmation.)
Democrats who voted to confirm Pompeo last year, however, have begun to bolt, including Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., who is on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In a statement, Shaheen said that while she appreciates Pompeo’s service at the CIA, she is troubled by his statements “on the LGBTQ community, American Muslims and women’s reproductive rights.”
It is possible Pompeo will not garner a single Democratic vote in the committee.
Cotton frankly acknowledged that Pompeo may not have the votes to win a recommendation from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Republicans hold 10 of the 19 committee seats, but Sen. Rand Paul, R-KY., was the lone Republican to vote against Pompeo’s confirmation as the nation’s spy chief last year. Rand has said he opposes Pompeo because of his support for the Iraq War.
During a meeting at Mar-a-lago with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Trump chose to address Pompeo’s chances. “I will say this about Rand Paul,” Trump said. “He’s never let me down.” The president recalled that Paul “voted for health care” when he was inclined to oppose it.
Senate rules allow a floor vote on a nominee who does not win a committee recommendation. In 1991,
U.S. Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas carried the Senate with a 52-48 vote after the Judiciary Committee failed to recommend him.
Contact Debra J. Saunders at dsaunders@reviewjournal. com or 202-662-7391. Follow @ Debrajsaunders on Twitter.