West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin blamed Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for the delay in confirming President Donald Trump's choices for staffing his administration.
"Mitch McConnell has the total control of this, and his committee chairman. They don't need any Democrats at all to put the president's team together," Manchin told Fox News' "Fox & Friends" Tuesday.
The Trump administration has faulted Democrats for staffing delays, maintaining it had hindered progress on furthering the president's agenda. But, Manchin said he had no problem with the Senate using a simple majority vote for confirmations.
"I've always agreed that when an administration wants to put their team together they should do it on a simple majority 51. There's 52 Republicans. I have voted, as a Democrat, mostly with the president's request on putting their team together," he said.
Since nominees were not confirmed to lifetime appointments, Manchin suggested senators proceed with the confirmation process, saying, "Let him put his team together and then throw everybody out in four years."
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