Tag: unqualified Trump nominee

VA nominee’s struggles are a consequence of Trump’s vetting failures

NOTE:  Since this article was published, Dr. Ronny Jackson pulled his nomination and is no longer the White House physician.

The following article by James Hohmann with Breanne Deppisch and Joanie Greve was posted on the Washington Post website April 24, 2018:

THE BIG IDEA: 

President Trump promises “extreme vetting” of all immigrants, but he has repeatedly failed to hold his own Cabinet picks, senior White House staff and judicial nominees to the same standard. Ronny L. Jackson’s imperiled nomination to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs is just the latest example.

President Trump shakes hands with White House physician Ronny Jackson. Credit: Carolyn Kaster/AP

Senate lawmakers postponed the White House doctor’s confirmation hearing last night after top Republicans and Democrats raised concerns about his qualifications and oversight of the White House medical staff.

Jackson’s Wednesday hearing before the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs was set to be brutal because several lawmakers fear he lacks the experience to lead an agency with 360,000 employees and an annual budget of $186 billion. They’re also frustrated that Trump sprung the pick on them without advance consultation, and that Jackson did not go through a formal vetting process. It’s unclear whether it will be rescheduled. Continue reading “VA nominee’s struggles are a consequence of Trump’s vetting failures”

Senate confirms Bradbury after fight over ‘torture memos’

The following article by Elana Schor and Lauren Gardner was posted on the Politico website November 14, 2017:

Those opposed to Steven Bradbury’s confirmation cite his role in the drafting of controversial memos that provided legal grounds for the use of brutal interrogation techniques under George W. Bush. | Mark Wilson/Getty Images

The Senate on Tuesday narrowly confirmed Steven Bradbury to join the Department of Transportation, with two Republicans voting with Democrats in opposition over Bradbury’s authorship of so-called torture memos during the George W. Bush administration.

The 50-47 vote came after an impassioned plea from Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who joined Democrats in a push to derail Bradbury’s confirmation as the general counsel at DOT. McCain did change one mind, however, with Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) voting no after crossing the aisle to support Bradbury on a key procedural vote Monday.

Manchin said in an interview after the vote that he “would try to be supportive of any administration” on nominees and that Bradbury had impressed him during their meeting. But when McCain called him Tuesday to personally ask for a no vote, Manchin said, he changed course “because of John’s service to our country, my respect and admiration for John.” Continue reading “Senate confirms Bradbury after fight over ‘torture memos’”