Trump Team: It’s “A Disservice To The Country” To Demand Ethics Reviews Of Cabinet Picks

Dems Seek Delay, But Hearings Likely To Proceed This Week

President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team on Saturday called it “a disservice to the country” for Democrats to demand that his cabinet nominees complete ethics reviews before confirmation hearings this week. 

As we reported Saturday, the director of the independent Office of Government Ethics (OGE) sent a letter to congressional leaders raising concerns that some of Trump’s cabinet nominees have not completed their ethics reviews. Director Walter Shaub Jr. wrote that it would mark the first time in the 40-year history of OGE that confirmation hearings were held for nominees who hadn’t been fully vetted by his office. 

In a statement responding to Shaub’s letter, Trump’s transition team accused the OGE and Democrats of “politicizing the process.” 

“President-elect Trump is putting together the most qualified administration in history and the transition process is currently running smoothly,” the statement said. “In the midst of a historic election where Americans voted to drain the swamp, it is is disappointing some have chosen to politicize the process in order to distract from the important issues facing our country. This is a disservice to our country and is exactly why voters chose Donald J. Trump as their next president.”  

Among those who’ve called for the confirmation hearings to be delayed is Senator Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts. 

“This is ridiculous. @realDonaldTrump’s noms can’t drag their feet on ethics paperwork while their Senate friends try to run out the clock,” Warren wrote Saturday on Twitter. “Cabinet officials must put our country’s interests before their own. No conf hearings should be held until we’re certain that’s the case.”

Alabama Republican Senator Jeff Sessions, Trump’s controversial pick for attorney general, is scheduled for two days of hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee beginning Tuesday. Five confirmation hearings are set for Wednesday, including for secretary of state nominee Rex Tillerson, the former Exxon CEO.

But according to The Washington Post, “even Democrats acknowledge that Trump’s slate of Cabinet picks will probably sail through.” 

“Basically, they can delay the process. They can’t stop it,” Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn told the Post.