Hawley Defends Uniform Opposition To Biden Cabinet Nominees

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., speaks at a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs & Senate Rules and Administration joint hearing on Capitol Hill, Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, to examine the January 6th attack on the Capitol. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool)
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 23: Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) speaks during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs & Senate Rules and Administration joint hearing on February 23, 2021 in Washington, DC. The ... WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 23: Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) speaks during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs & Senate Rules and Administration joint hearing on February 23, 2021 in Washington, DC. The committee is hearing testimony about the law enforcement preparation for and response to the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. (Photo by Andrew Harnik - Pool/Getty Images) MORE LESS
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Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) on Monday defended having opposed every one of President Joe Biden’s Cabinet nominees that have passed through the Senate so far — insisting to CNN in an interview that he has weighed each pick individually.

“I take them one at a time,” Hawley told CNN when pressed on his opposition to close to a dozen Biden nominations on Monday. “If there is someone I think will be good to Missouri, that I can defend to my voters, somebody who I think is going to be good for the job, I’ll vote for them,” Hawley said, citing his support of a deputy defense nominee who was confirmed by the chamber through a voice vote.

CNN pointed out that Hawley has already opposed each of the 11 Cabinet-level nominees requiring Senate approval that have been confirmed so far. There are 23 total.

It’s not uncommon for some nominations to face opposition as a new president brings together a cabinet, but Hawley’s repeated challenges to each of Biden’s nominations is a striking development as he is the only senator to put forward uniform opposition.

The Missouri senator was also a ring leader in objecting to Electoral College votes for Biden, pushing false claims of voter fraud that were central to former President Donald Trump’s false claims of a stolen election that fomented a deadly riot on the Capitol in January.

 

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