|
|
"A comprehensive, collaborative elections resource."
|
Before vote, some senators knew of testimony error by TSA nominee Southers
|
|---|
| Parent(s) |
Race
|
| Contributor | Scott³ |
| Last Edited | Scott³ Jan 02, 2010 11:05pm |
| Logged |
0
|
| Category | News |
| Author | Philip Rucker and Robert O'Harrow Jr. |
| Media | Newspaper - Washington Post |
| News Date | Sunday, January 3, 2010 05:00:00 AM UTC0:0 |
| Description | "Democratic senators rallied around President Obama's pick to head the Transportation Security Administration on Friday as new details emerged indicating that key lawmakers already knew when they voted in November to advance his nomination that he had mischaracterized a personal incident in his testimony.
The White House rushed to defend Erroll Southers, who is under fire for providing inconsistent statements to Congress about inappropriately accessing confidential criminal records 20 years ago about his then-estranged wife's new boyfriend. Democratic senators, meanwhile, intensified pressure to confirm Southers soon after Congress returns from its winter recess, saying it is critical that permanent leadership is installed at the TSA in the aftermath of the attempted Christmas Day bombing of a U.S. airliner.
Still, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), who earlier delayed Southers's nomination over a labor union issue, on Friday became the first senator to oppose the nominee, saying, "If he can't tell the truth, then he's not qualified and should not be confirmed."
The discrepancy surfaced in documents first published by The Washington Post on Thursday.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who had raised suspicions about Southers's statements to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said Friday she is satisfied with his explanations and has faith in his nomination.
"In the absence of any new information, I intend to support Mr. Southers, who is qualified to lead the TSA during this challenging time for the agency," Collins said in a statement to The Post." |
| Share |
|
|
2¢
|
|
| Article | Read Full Article |
|
| Date |
Category |
Headline |
Article |
Contributor |
|
|
