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U.S. NEWS Tuesday 24 January 2017
Senate panel narrowly backs Trump’s choice for top diplomat

rious reservations about Every nominee for the job
Tillerson, particularly over going back at least four
his views on Russia, he be- decades has been ap-
lieved a president was proved by overwhelming
entitled to significant def- votes from both sides in
erence in assembling his the Foreign Relations Com-
Cabinet. mittee, as senators have
None of the committee’s traditionally wanted to de-
10 Democrats voted for Til- liver a bipartisan display of
lerson. They cited concerns confidence to the nation’s
Tillerson would continue to top diplomat. No other
view the world through the nominee since 1977 has re-
lens of a corporate execu- ceived more than two “no”
tive and not the nation’s votes from the committee.
chief diplomat. Sen. Bob Corker of Tennes-
Sen. Ben Cardin of Mary- see, the committee’s Re-
land, the panel’s top Dem- publican chairman, said
ocrat, said Tillerson “equiv- he has “no doubt” Tillerson
ocated” during his confir- is well-qualified, citing his
mation hearing on ques- leadership of the energy
tions about human rights, giant. Corker chided his
civil society and press colleagues who had de-
and religious freedoms, manded information about
Secretary of State-designate Rex Tillerson testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington. Tillerson’s bid to and repeatedly prioritized Tillerson’s personal taxes,
be secretary of state narrowly won approval Monday from the Republican-led Foreign Relations
Committee, a move that all but assures the full Senate will confirm President Donald Trump’s pick “narrow business interests saying the material had
for the key Cabinet post. ahead of these core na- been used to ask “silly, silly
(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) tional security interests.” questions.”q
RICHARD LARDNER ed along party lines, 11-10,
ERICA WERNER to back Tillerson following
Associated Press a contentious confirmation
WASHINGTON (AP) — Rex hearing nearly two weeks
Tillerson’s bid to be secre- ago that stoked concerns
tary of state narrowly won he might not win the pan-
approval Monday from the el’s recommendation. But
Republican-led Foreign Re- just hours before members
lations Committee, a move cast their votes, Sen. Marco
that all but assures the full Rubio, R-Fla., declared his
Senate will confirm Presi- support for Tillerson, back-
dent Donald Trump’s pick ing off from a challenge to
for the key Cabinet post. the new president.
Members of the panel vot- Rubio said that despite se-
Dems will try to delay Sessions vote

MARY JALONICK lier this month, Senate Ju-
Associated Press diciary Chairman Charles
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Grassley, R-Iowa, said he
top Democrat on the Sen- looked forward to “moving
ate Judiciary Committee to his appointment without
plans to request a delay in delay.”
the confirmation vote on In a statement, though,
President Donald Trump’s he noted that such delays
nominee for attorney gen- happen frequently.
eral, a move that will push “It’s a long-standing prac-
the panel’s vote back to tice that has become stan-
Jan. 31. dard operating procedure
The Judiciary panel was that allows members to fur-
scheduled to vote Tues- ther study a bill or a nomi-
day on Alabama Sen. Jeff nee’s record, or simply de-
Sessions’ nomination. But lay proceeding,” Grassley
committee rules allow any said.
member of the panel to Several Democrats on the
hold a vote over until the panel have already said
next week, and members they will vote against Ses-
of both parties frequently sions, who is also a mem-
do. A spokesman for Cali- ber of the committee. Most
fornia Sen. Dianne Feinstein have said they are skepti-
said Monday that she will cal that the Republican
request the extra week “to will be fair and committed
give the committee more to civil rights, a chief prior-
time to conduct its due dili- ity of the Justice Depart-
gence.” ment during the Obama
At Sessions’ hearing ear- administration.q