US Election 2024

‘Delaying and obstructing’: Top Senate Republican hits back as Dem calls foul on Trump confirmation hearings

Senate Democrats are once again facing accusations of “delaying and obstructing” top energy nominees for President-elect Trump’s incoming administration, according to Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, chairman of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

In an exclusive statement to Fox News Digital, Lee expressed frustration with the Democratic party’s efforts to slow down the confirmation process for Trump’s nominees. He emphasized that the paperwork for both Gov. Doug Burgum and Chris Wright had been submitted to the Office of Government Ethics, and the confirmation process was moving forward as it should.

Lee criticized his Democratic counterpart on the committee, ranking member Martin Heinrich, for suggesting that the scheduling of confirmation hearings for Burgum and Wright breached protocol. Heinrich accused Lee of setting the hearings without the consent of the committee’s minority, calling it a “breach of protocol and precedent.”

However, Lee defended his actions, stating that he was “in full compliance” with all rules when setting up confirmation hearings for key energy roles in Trump’s administration. He pointed out that a similar scenario had occurred in 2009 during former President Obama’s administration, where confirmation hearings were announced before all documents were received.

Despite Heinrich’s criticisms, Lee maintained that Republicans would continue to comply with all committee rules and ensure that the confirmation process moved forward. He urged Senate Democrats to take the confirmation process seriously and meet the moment with the seriousness it demands.

In response to Heinrich’s claims that the committee had not received the required documents for Burgum and Wright, a spokesperson for committee Democrats stated that these instances were the only ones where documents were not received before the hearings, despite dozens of nominees being considered.

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Overall, the tension between Senate Democrats and Republicans regarding the confirmation process for Trump’s energy nominees highlights the ongoing political divide in Washington. As the confirmation hearings for Burgum and Wright approach, it remains to be seen how the process will unfold and whether both parties can come to a resolution.

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