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Schumer is advocating for FBI background checks on Trump nominees and for the Senate to evaluate them. He stated in a letter that Democrats are willing to collaborate with Republicans to review the president-elect’s picks, but believes they should follow the usual Senate vetting process.
Written by Carl Hulse
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The leading Democrat in the Senate expressed willingness on Monday to work together with Republicans in the upcoming year to review President-elect Donald J. Trump’s selections for his cabinet and other key positions in his administration. He also urged the GOP to follow the usual Senate vetting procedures that Mr. Trump has suggested he may not comply with.
Senator Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York and the current Senate leader, wrote a letter to Senator John Thune, a South Dakota Republican who is expected to become majority leader in January. In the letter, Schumer expressed his willingness to collaborate with Senate Republicans in reviewing nominations, some of which have already been controversial. The most recent announcement was made by President Trump on Saturday, revealing his intention to appoint Kash Patel, a loyalist and conservative figure, as the new director of the F.B.I.
Mr. Schumer expressed his commitment to working together in a bipartisan manner with Mr. Thune. This involves reviewing standard background investigation materials from the FBI for each nominee, scheduling hearings and markups in the appropriate committees, and considering nominees on the Senate floor.
Mr. Trump is considering bypassing the Senate and appointing his nominees during recesses, while some Senate Republicans are supporting this idea to overcome opposition from Democrats. His advisers are also proposing to have his nominees vetted by private security firms instead of the FBI, a suggestion that has gained support from some Senate Republicans.
Some Republicans and Democrats are opposed to both ideas because they believe they go against the Senate’s duty to advise and consent on nominees. They are concerned that implementing these ideas could damage the Senate’s reputation and diminish its ability to oversee federal agencies.
Mr. Schumer wrote a letter encouraging Republicans to prevent that from occurring.
The Senate is an important part of our system of checks and balances, ensuring that the president appoints qualified public officials who will serve the American people and uphold the Constitution. It is crucial that the Senate continues to fulfill this duty, regardless of political party, as it has done for many generations.
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