Synopsis
On February 5, Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F Kennedy Jr successfully passed an initial confirmation hurdle for their nominations by Senate committees, while Pam Bondi received Senate approval as attorney general.Key Takeaways
- Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F Kennedy Jr clear Senate committees for high-level nominations.
- Pam Bondi receives full Senate approval as attorney general.
- Gabbard faces skepticism due to her past support for Edward Snowden.
- Kennedy’s vaccine stance raises concerns among Republicans.
- Trump promotes loyalty among GOP senators regarding controversial nominees.
New York, Feb 5 (NationPress) Two of US President Donald Trump’s most contentious nominees for prominent roles, Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F Kennedy Jr, have successfully navigated the initial confirmation hurdle after receiving endorsements from Senate committees.
The committees' approval on Tuesday advances their nominations to the full Senate for consideration.
In a related development, the complete Senate endorsed Pam Bondi for the position of attorney general. Having previously served in the same role in Florida, she also acted as one of Trump’s personal attorneys during his first impeachment.
In contrast to some of Trump’s nominees, Bondi was not viewed as controversial and gained support from a Democratic senator for her confirmation.
The Senate Intelligence Committee approved Gabbard's nomination for Director of National Intelligence with a strictly partisan vote, where all nine Republicans backed her while eight Democrats opposed.
Kennedy secured the Finance Committee's approval for Health Secretary with a narrow partisan vote of 14 to 13.
The nomination of Kash Patel, a divisive Trump choice for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) director, remains stalled in the Judiciary Committee as Democrats request an additional public hearing.
Hindu American Gabbard, a former national vice chair of the Democratic Party who switched allegiances last year to support Trump, is a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve with prior service in the Iraq War. During her tenure in Congress, she was part of the House Armed Services Committee and the Intelligence Subcommittee, although her credentials have faced scrutiny.
Her controversial endorsement of Edward Snowden, the former NSA contractor who released classified information regarding questionable surveillance programs before seeking asylum in Russia, was a focal point during the hearings.
This raised concerns about her gaining full Republican support, yet they ultimately rallied around her, leaving uncertainty for the complete Senate vote.
Some criticisms directed at her have crossed into Hinduphobia, targeting her religious beliefs.
During her confirmation hearing, Gabbard stated that certain Democratic senators are “once again employing the religious bigotry card, but this time attempting to incite religious prejudice against Hindus and Hinduism.”
Kennedy's skepticism towards vaccines and advocacy for non-scientific remedies, combined with his tumultuous personal history, have raised questions about his backing from key Republicans.
Senator Bill Cassidy, a physician, was seen as the last Republican resistant on the committee, yet he eventually joined the support.
Trump has established a loyalty test for Republican senators regarding votes for his controversial nominees.
Some hardline members of the party, like Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, have warned that “there will absolutely be consequences” for not backing them.
The Republicans hold a slim majority in the Senate, allowing for only three defections within their ranks.
After Pete Hegseth lost support from three Republicans, Vice President JD Vance intervened to cast the tie-breaking vote amid a 50-50 deadlock regarding his confirmation as Defense Secretary.
Patel’s nomination is overshadowed by Trump’s dismissal of several senior FBI officials and threats against numerous agents who probed the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot by Trump supporters in their failed endeavor to block Congress from certifying Joe Biden’s election.
During his confirmation hearing, Patel assured that he would maintain the FBI’s impartiality and would not engage in retaliatory actions.
