Dems Mull Plan to Block Pompeo From State Dept. Confirmation

Democrats are considering a plan to prevent Mike Pompeo from being confirmed as secretary of state, The Hill reported.

The plan involves Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee refusing to vote to discharge Pompeo from the committee with even an unfavorable recommendation, the report said.

That would lead to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to offer a motion to bring Pompeo’s nomination to the Senate floor. Democratic senators and aides said that would allow Democrats to block Pompeo with a filibuster, The Hill reported.

McConnell could use the nuclear option and rule the Democrat maneuver out of order to bring Pompeo’s nomination to the Senate floor, for which he would need a majority vote, The Hill reported.

Pompeo is likely to have enough votes for his confirmation after Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-ND, said she would vote in favor of Pompeo.

Senate Republican Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, dismissed the Democrats plan.

"I think that’s wishful thinking. They’re wishing it,” Cornyn said.

Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said that he did not foresee the nuclear option coming into play.

"I think it will end up getting worked out,” Corker told The Hill.

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