‘Obstructionist Democrats’ Block Swift Confirmation Of Trump’s CIA Nominee Despite Garnering Bipartisan Support

Senate Democrats on Tuesday evening blocked the swift confirmation of John Ratcliffe, who is President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the CIA.

Democratic Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy objected to a time agreement that would have expedited the confirmation of Ratcliffe, who is the former director of National Intelligence. Murphy’s refusal to give Ratcliffe a swift confirmation vote could be the first of many objections by Senate Democrats to drag out the confirmation process for Trump’s cabinet nominees.

Murphy’s objection to Ratcliffe comes after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer appeared to commit to working with Senate Republicans on confirming Trump cabinet nominees evaluated by Senate Democrats to be “qualified” to lead their agencies.

“Democrats have been very clear about our approach to President Trump’s nominees,” Schumer said in a statement Monday. “We will neither rubber stamp nominees we feel are grossly unqualified, nor will we reflexively oppose nominees that deserve serious consideration.”

Republican Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton, chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, slammed Murphy’s objection to Ratcliffe. Cotton said that Ratcliffe advanced out of the Senate Intelligence Committee with just three Senate Democrats in opposition. The panel’s top Democratic lawmaker, Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, also supported Ratcliffe.

“I don’t really understand the objection to Mr. Ratcliffe,” Cotton said on the Senate floor. “He was confirmed by the Senate to be the director of National Intelligence. He was fully vetted by the bipartisan process on the Senate Intelligence Committee.”