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Senator Schumer is urging for FBI background checks and Senate review of President Trump’s nominees. He stated that Democrats are willing to collaborate with Republicans in evaluating the nominees, but emphasized the importance of following the standard Senate vetting process.
Written by Carl Hulse
Writing from the capital
The leading Democrat in the Senate expressed willingness on Monday to work with Republicans next year in reviewing 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 might not follow.
Senator Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York and the current Senate leader, expressed his willingness to collaborate with Senate Republicans, led by Senator John Thune of South Dakota, in reviewing nominations. Some of these nominations have caused controversy, with the latest being the announcement of Kash Patel as the intended director of the FBI by President Trump. Patel is known to be a loyalist and right-wing figure.
Mr. Schumer expressed his commitment to working together with Mr. Thune in a bipartisan manner to review standard F.B.I. background investigation materials, schedule hearings and markups in relevant committees, and evaluate nominees on the Senate floor.
Mr. Trump is considering bypassing the Senate and appointing his nominees during recesses. Some Senate Republicans support this idea to overcome opposition from Democrats. Additionally, there are suggestions from the president-elect’s advisers to forgo F.B.I. background checks for nominees and instead use private security firms for vetting, which some Senate Republicans are also in favor of.
Some Republicans and Democrats are opposed to both ideas because they believe it would go against the Senate’s constitutional duty to advise and consent on nominees. They fear that it could damage the Senate as an institution and diminish its ability to oversee federal agencies.
Mr. Schumer wrote a letter encouraging Republicans to prevent that from occurring.
Mr. Schumer emphasized the important role of the Senate in our system of checks and balances. He stated that the Senate must ensure that the president appoints qualified public officials who will serve the American people and uphold the Constitution. Schumer stressed the importance of the Senate fulfilling this duty regardless of political party, as it has been done for generations. He emphasized the need for the Senate to remain steadfast in its constitutional responsibilities.
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