Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Tuesday night blocked Senate confirmation of President Donald Trump's nominee to head the CIA, John Ratcliffe, calling for Democrats to use political maneuvering to protect national security. That infuriated Republicans who said it was a threat.
Ratcliffe's nomination was supported by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence in a bipartisan vote of 14-3 on Monday. But Murphy argued that Democrats still had “serious concerns” about Ratcliffe and blocked Republicans from confirming the case on the Senate floor Tuesday.
Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) accused Murphy of interfering with Ratcliffe's Senate confirmation as director of national intelligence during President Trump's first term. Cotton said:
The only vote we got yesterday was for Senator Rubio. Well, there is no voting today, and apparently there will be no voting tomorrow. I mean, I hope no one has anything planned for the weekend or for the evening. Because we're going to get these candidates. Starting with Mr. Ratcliffe, then Mr. Hegseth, and then [Ms.] Nomu, the easy way or the hard way.
“We have tried to work with the Democratic Party. The cooperation is not yet underway, so it will be a difficult road starting Thursday,” he added.
Mr. Murphy said he would block Mr. Cotton's attempt to hold a vote on Mr. Ratcliffe and force a two-day debate on Mr. Ratcliffe.
“Many of us have serious concerns about John.” [Ratcliffe’s] Murphy said that in his short eight months as DNI, he had the ability to distance himself from President Trump's political interests and his work as CIA director. He has repeatedly politicized intelligence activities in ways that advance his interests.” The real question for us is whether he intends to release the highly sensitive information his agency collects for political purposes. ”
Mr Cotton fired back: “What this really means is that we are trying to play a procedural game by dragging out all of these nominees, as we are trying to do with the nomination of Pete Hegseth, and quickly and in a timely manner to move President Trump's Cabinet.” “Just like Democrats did in 2017.” ”
He warned Democrats that they would need to work through the weekend to win approval.
“But like I said, don't make weekend plans. Don't make dinner plans starting Thursday night. Because we're trying to get these candidates through easy collegiality, Or because apparently we’re going to end it the hard way.”
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