Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has been doing his damnedest to rush popular vote loser Donald Trump's cabinet nominees to a vote—truncated committee hearings, refusing to require complete vetting and ethics compliance, all to get them to the floor for votes and installed to start the big job of destroying America immediately. But Democrats are doing whatever they can to slow down the train. To that end, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) has put a hold on CIA nominee Mike Pompeo.
WASHINGTON An objection from Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden could delay the U.S. Senate’s vote to confirm Kansas Rep. Mike Pompeo as the new director of the Central Intelligence Agency.
The vote had been expected to happen on Friday, after the swearing-in of Donald Trump as the 45th president.
The move means Trump likely will start his presidency without his own nominee at the head of the CIA.
The CIA is locked in a battle with Trump over allegations that the Russian President Vladimir Putin was behind an effort to sway the election in Trump’s favor.
“While members of the Senate give Rep. Pompeo’s nomination the careful consideration it deserves, Senator Schumer has asked Vice President Pence to keep Director Brennan on the job over the weekend,” said Matt House, a spokesman for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, in a statement.
This gives at least a few more days for the CIA to continue its role in the ongoing investigation in Trump associates' ties to Russia. Schumer spokesman Matt House pointed out in a statement that "Director (Michael) Hayden served as a bridge between the Bush and Obama presidencies eight years ago, Director (John) Brennan could play the same role for the incoming and outgoing administrations, if the President is willing to keep him on."
Republicans can of course bulldoze right over Wyden's block, but are unlikely to take up Pompeo Friday. They are set, however, to vote on retired Gens. James Mattis and John Kelly, picked to lead the Pentagon and Department of Homeland Security, respectively.