Incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) indicated Thursday that he’s open to putting the upper chamber in recess to allow President-elect Donald Trump to fill some of his more controversial administration picks.
“Well, it’s an option,” Thune said of recess appointments, during an interview with Fox News “Special Report” host Bret Baier.
The South Dakota Republican explained, however, that some of his colleagues could refuse to vote in favor of recessing.
“You have to have all Republicans vote to recess as well,” Thune said. “So, the same Republicans that you mentioned, they might have a problem voting for somebody under regular order probably also have a problem voting to put the Senate into recess. You have to have concurrence from the House. There’s a process.”
If the Senate is in recess, the president has the constitutional authority to make temporary appointments -- bypassing Senate confirmation hearings -- that would last until the next Senate recess.
The procedure is seldom used.
Thune, who was elected Senate majority leader on Wednesday, was also asked about the House Ethics Committee investigation of Matt Gaetz – and whether he believes the panel’s report on allegations that Trump’s attorney general pick engaged in sexual misconduct will factor into his Senate confirmation hearings.
“My guess is, at some point, it gets out there,” Thune said of the ethics committee report. “And I’m not sure exactly what that process is at the moment.”
“None of this is gonna be easy,” the senator responded when asked about the potential for “fireworks” in getting Trump’s appointments approved.
“But again, President Trump had a huge mandate from the American people, not only the popular vote, the electoral vote. They were historic. And the people in this country want change. He wants to bring that about. And I always believe that you defer to a president when it comes to the people they want in their cabinet,” Thune added.
Read more at https://nypost.com/2024/11/13/us-news/donald-trump-transition-news-11-13-2024/
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