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Senator Schumer is pushing for FBI background checks and Senate review of Trump’s nominees. He stated in a letter that Democrats will collaborate with Republicans to evaluate the president-elect’s nominees, but emphasized that they should go through the standard Senate vetting process.
Written by Carl Hulse
Reporting live from the
The leading Democrat in the Senate has expressed willingness to work with Republicans in reviewing President-elect Donald J. Trump’s picks for his cabinet and other key positions in his administration. He also urged the GOP to follow the usual Senate vetting process that Trump has suggested he might bypass.
Senator Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York and the current Senate leader, expressed his readiness to collaborate with Senate Republicans in reviewing nominations, some of which have been controversial. The most recent nomination is Kash Patel as the director of the FBI, announced by President Trump on Saturday. Patel is known for his loyalty and right-wing views.
Mr. Schumer expressed his commitment to working together with Mr. Thune in a bipartisan manner to review FBI background investigation materials for each nominee, hold hearings and markups in the relevant committees, and consider nominees on the Senate floor.
Mr. Trump is considering bypassing the Senate and appointing his nominees during recesses, as some Senate Republicans have recommended. His advisors are also suggesting that he forgo F.B.I. background checks for his nominees and instead use private security firms for vetting, which some Senate Republicans support.
Some Republicans and Democrats are against both ideas because they believe it would go against the Senate’s constitutional duty of advising and consenting on nominees. They are concerned that these changes could damage the Senate as an institution and decrease its ability to oversee federal agencies.
Mr. Schumer wrote a letter encouraging Republicans to prevent that from occurring.
Mr. Schumer emphasized the importance of the Senate in the system of checks and balances, stating that it is essential for the president to appoint qualified officials who will serve the American people and uphold the Constitution. He stressed that the Senate, regardless of party affiliation, has a duty to fulfill this responsibility and should not falter in upholding the Constitution.
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