A Republican senator who sits on the committee that will consider the nomination of Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-SC) as the director of the Office of Management and Budget said Thursday that the revelation that Mulvaney had failed to pay income tax on a household employee may “create problems” for his confirmation.
“It could create problems,” Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) told CNN. “I don’t know for sure, but I’ve had problems with former Cabinet people under both Republicans and Democrats where that’s either been straightened out — or if there wasn’t justification for it oppose it.”
According to CNN, he did not say whether he believed Mulvaney should withdraw.
Grassley sits on the Budget Committee, which will host hearings on Mulvaney next week. Typically a nominee is approved by the committee that holds jurisdiction over his or her agency before heading to a floor vote, but it is possible that the committee can be bypassed for a full Senate vote.
Mulvaney confessed on his Senate confirmation questionaire that he had neglected to pay more than $15,000 in payroll taxes for a household employee — reportedly a sitter for his children — between 2000 and 2004, and had since paid back taxes, according to the New York Times.
President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team is continuing to defend Mulvaney’s nomination.