By Jordain Carney, The Hill
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) said Wednesday that he will oppose Rahm Emanuel’s nomination to be ambassador to Japan.
“Black Lives Matter. Here in the halls of Congress, it is important that we not just speak and believe these words, but put them into action in the decisions we make,” Merkley said in a statement.
“I have carefully considered Mayor Emanuel’s record—and the input of civil rights leaders, criminal justice experts, and local elected officials who have reached out to the Senate to weigh in—and I have reached the decision that I cannot support his nomination to serve as a U.S. Ambassador,” Merkley added in a statement.
The committee is evenly split between Republicans and Democrats, meaning Emanuel will need help from Republicans to get his nomination to the Senate floor. But Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), who previously has served as ambassador to Japan, has backed Emanuel’s nomination and introduced him at his committee hearing.
Recent Posts
Massive Ivanka Trump Problem Triggers Existential Threat to GOP: ‘Rage Is Building’
Take Action Now Locals in Albania — where Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner plan to transform one of the nation’s most important ecological sites…
Vance-Led Task Force Moves to Strip 760,000 People of ACA Coverage
Take Action Now Protect Our Care says about 8 million people have lost coverage since the start of Trump’s second termBy Ruth Milka, Nation of…
The Espionage Act Monster: How Washington Crushes Those Who Expose Its Crimes
Take Action Now As surveillance expands and the ability to communicate anonymously becomes increasingly difficult, the panel asks a fundamental…
Another U.S. Soldier Is Dead as Iran War Casualties Rise
Take Action Now An additional 66 U.S. personnel were wounded in action this month, pushing the official count of Iran war casualties above 850.By…