Cabinet doubters sign off on Rex

Two vocal Senate skeptics threw their support behind Rex Tillerson on Sunday, clearing a path for his confirmation as secretary of state.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said he’ll back Tillerson, the former Exxon Mobil Corp. CEO, as did Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC). Both had voiced concerns over Tillerson’s business ties to Russia and Vladimir Putin, but said they’ll give the new president the benefit of the doubt.

“I will be voting in favor of his nomination,” McCain told ABC’s “This Week,” adding, “This wasn’t an easy call.”

Graham told CBS’s “Face the Na- tion” Tillerson convinced him he values the importance of US foreign aid.

“He said that when America doesn’t lead, other people will,” Graham said. “And the vacuum is always filled by bad actors.”

There’s a possibility Tillerson’s nomination won’t get past the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Monday if Florida Sen. Marco Rubio fails to deliver the GOP its one-vote majority. But leadership has signaled the full Senate would still vote for Tillerson, who will likely have enough votes now that Graham and McCain are on board.

The Senate on Monday will resume consideration of Rep. Mike Pompeo for CIA director. Other nominees expected to win confirmation soon without much resistance are Elaine Chao, wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, for transportation secretary and Rep. Ryan Zinke for the Interior Department.

But Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Sunday that Democrats will continue to resist “eight or nine” other nominees.

“We call it the Swamp Cabinet — billionaires and bankers,” Schumer told CNN’s “State of the Union.”

A simple majority is needed for confirmation. Republicans have the ad-

vantage with 52 votes, meaning Schumer needs to win over a few GOP dissenters.

“Whether we can beat any of them, that will be up to Republicans,” Schumer said.

Meanwhile, President Trump will welcome congressional leaders to the White House on Monday.

Kicking off his first full day at work, he has invited the top members from each chamber for an official reception, followed by a private meeting with House Speaker Paul Ryan afterward