Trump Cabinet confirmation hearings **live commentary thread**

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

FTC Nominations Confirmed by Voice Vote: Cal. #710 Rohit Chopra; Cal. #711 Noah Phillips; Cal. #712 Joseph Simons; Cal. #713 Christine Wilson; Cal. #714 Christine Wilson; Cal. #825 Rebecca Slaughter

Confirmed by Voice Vote: Cal. #757 Andrea Thompson to be Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security

The Senate stands adjourned until May 7th.

-------------------

Next nominations to be considered:

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[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Englehardt passes CLOTURE 64-31:

NAYs ---31
Baldwin (D-WI)
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Booker (D-NJ)
Brown (D-OH)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Casey (D-PA)
Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Durbin (D-IL)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harris (D-CA)
Hassan (D-NH)
Heinrich (D-NM)
Hirono (D-HI)
Kaine (D-VA)
Markey (D-MA)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Murray (D-WA)
Peters (D-MI)
Reed (D-RI)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schatz (D-HI)
Schumer (D-NY)
Shaheen (D-NH)
Smith (D-MN)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Udall (D-NM)
Van Hollen (D-MD)
Warren (D-MA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting - 5
Duckworth (D-IL)
Graham (R-SC)
Isakson (R-GA)
McCain (R-AZ)
Merkley (D-OR)

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Votes Scheduled: At 12:00pm tomorrow, 5/9, the Senate will vote on the following:
1. Confirmation of Cal. #673 Kurt Engelhardt to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit
2. Motion to invoke cloture on Cal. #690 Michael Brennan to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Two important hearings today:

9:30 AM - Senate Intelligence Committee: Nomination of Gina Haspel to be CIA Director - https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/hearings/open-hearing-nomination-gina-haspel-be-director-central-intelligence-agency

10:00 AM - Senate Judiciary Committee: Nomination of Ryan Bounds to be on the 9th Circuit Court - https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/meetings/05/09/2018/nominations . This is a key hearing as the fact that it is being held has created controversy due to opposition from Bounds's home state Senators.
(Wyden and Merkley)

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Englehardt confirmed 62-34:

NAYs ---34
Baldwin (D-WI)
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Booker (D-NJ)
Brown (D-OH)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harris (D-CA)
Hassan (D-NH)
Heinrich (D-NM)
Hirono (D-HI)
Kaine (D-VA)
Markey (D-MA)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Merkley (D-OR)
Murray (D-WA)
Peters (D-MI)
Reed (D-RI)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schatz (D-HI)
Schumer (D-NY)
Shaheen (D-NH)
Smith (D-MN)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Udall (D-NM)
Van Hollen (D-MD)
Warren (D-MA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting - 4
Donnelly (D-IN)
Duckworth (D-IL)
Graham (R-SC)
McCain (R-AZ)

Brennan passes CLOTURE 49-47:

NAYs ---47
Baldwin (D-WI)
Bennet (D-CO)
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Booker (D-NJ)
Brown (D-OH)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Coons (D-DE)
Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harris (D-CA)
Hassan (D-NH)
Heinrich (D-NM)
Heitkamp (D-ND)
Hirono (D-HI)
Jones (D-AL)
Kaine (D-VA)
King (I-ME)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Leahy (D-VT)
Manchin (D-WV)
Markey (D-MA)
McCaskill (D-MO)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Merkley (D-OR)
Murphy (D-CT)
Murray (D-WA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Peters (D-MI)
Reed (D-RI)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schatz (D-HI)
Schumer (D-NY)
Shaheen (D-NH)
Smith (D-MN)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Tester (D-MT)
Udall (D-NM)
Van Hollen (D-MD)
Warner (D-VA)
Warren (D-MA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting - 4
Donnelly (D-IN)
Duckworth (D-IL)
Graham (R-SC)
McCain (R-AZ)

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Tomorrow, 12 Noon:

1. Confirmation of the Brennan nomination
2. CLOTURE on the Carson nomination

Tomorrow, 1:45 PM: CLOTURE on the Nalbandian nomination

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Brennan confirmed 49-46:

NAYs ---46
Baldwin (D-WI)
Bennet (D-CO)
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Brown (D-OH)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Donnelly (D-IN)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harris (D-CA)
Hassan (D-NH)
Heinrich (D-NM)
Heitkamp (D-ND)
Hirono (D-HI)
Jones (D-AL)
Kaine (D-VA)
King (I-ME)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Leahy (D-VT)
Manchin (D-WV)
Markey (D-MA)
McCaskill (D-MO)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Merkley (D-OR)
Murphy (D-CT)
Murray (D-WA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Peters (D-MI)
Reed (D-RI)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schatz (D-HI)
Schumer (D-NY)
Shaheen (D-NH)
Smith (D-MN)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Tester (D-MT)
Udall (D-NM)
Van Hollen (D-MD)
Warner (D-VA)
Warren (D-MA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting - 5
Booker (D-NJ)
Coons (D-DE)
Duckworth (D-IL)
Graham (R-SC)
McCain (R-AZ)

Carson passes CLOTURE 71-24:

NAYs ---24
Baldwin (D-WI)
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Brown (D-OH)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Casey (D-PA)
Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harris (D-CA)
Hirono (D-HI)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Markey (D-MA)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Merkley (D-OR)
Murray (D-WA)
Peters (D-MI)
Reed (D-RI)
Sanders (I-VT)
Smith (D-MN)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Van Hollen (D-MD)
Warren (D-MA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting - 5
Booker (D-NJ)
Coons (D-DE)
Duckworth (D-IL)
Graham (R-SC)
McCain (R-AZ)

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Nalbandian passes CLOTURE 52-43:

NAYs ---43
Baldwin (D-WI)
Bennet (D-CO)
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Brown (D-OH)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harris (D-CA)
Hassan (D-NH)
Heinrich (D-NM)
Hirono (D-HI)
Jones (D-AL)
Kaine (D-VA)
King (I-ME)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Leahy (D-VT)
Markey (D-MA)
McCaskill (D-MO)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Merkley (D-OR)
Murphy (D-CT)
Murray (D-WA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Peters (D-MI)
Reed (D-RI)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schatz (D-HI)
Schumer (D-NY)
Shaheen (D-NH)
Smith (D-MN)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Tester (D-MT)
Udall (D-NM)
Van Hollen (D-MD)
Warner (D-VA)
Warren (D-MA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting - 5
Booker (D-NJ)
Coons (D-DE)
Duckworth (D-IL)
McCain (R-AZ)
Moran (R-KS)

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Next week:

5:30pm on Monday:
1. Confirmation of Cal. #780 Michael Scudder to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit
2. Confirmation of Cal. #781 Amy J. St. Eve to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit

12:00pm on Tuesday:
1. Confirmation of Cal.#729 Joel M. Carson III to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Tenth Circuit
2. Confirmation of Cal. #777 John Nalbandian to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit

Possible: Nomination of Mitchell Zais to be deputy secretary of education

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Right now, it is looking like Haspel will fall short, but I don't trust the red state Dems. I need definitive answers from them. Are we for sure Collins is a no?

Collins is a confirmed yes actually: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/gina-haspel-a-lock-to-pass-intel-panel-vote-with-nod-from-susan-collins

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Next week:

5:30pm on Monday:
1. Confirmation of Cal. #780 Michael Scudder to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit
2. Confirmation of Cal. #781 Amy J. St. Eve to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit

12:00pm on Tuesday:
1. Confirmation of Cal.#729 Joel M. Carson III to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Tenth Circuit
2. Confirmation of Cal. #777 John Nalbandian to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit

Possible: Nomination of Mitchell Zais to be deputy secretary of education

Those are cloture votes for Scudder and St Eve, presumably.

Senate cloakroom says confirmation vote for those two. They are not controversial so not surprising.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Confirmed by Voice Vote: Exec. Cal. #740 Patrick Hovakimian to be a Member of the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the U.S.

U.S. Marshal’s Confirmed by Voice Vote: Exec. Cal. #830 Gregory Forest to be U.S. Marshal for the Western District of North Carolina; Exec. Cal. #831 Bradley Maxwell to be U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Illinois

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Goddammit. So right now we have Paul and Manchin probably flipping.

Any chance Lee or Murkowski could also oppose?

The only non-Paul Republican that is worrying Leadership is Jeff Flake, but he's not known for having a spine, so I wouldn't get my hopes up.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Scudder confirmed on a unanimous vote of 90-0. This is the first time in the Trump Presidency that a circuit court nominee has been confirmed unanimously.

Not Voting - 10
Blunt (R-MO)
Cruz (R-TX)
Duckworth (D-IL)
Graham (R-SC)
Heller (R-NV)
Lankford (R-OK)
Lee (R-UT)
Manchin (D-WV)
McCain (R-AZ)
Nelson (D-FL)

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

St. Eve confirmed on a unanimous vote of 91-0.

Not Voting - 9
Blunt (R-MO)
Cruz (R-TX)
Duckworth (D-IL)
Graham (R-SC)
Heller (R-NV)
Lankford (R-OK)
Lee (R-UT)
Manchin (D-WV)
McCain (R-AZ)

The following nomination was confirmed by Voice Vote:

Exec. Cal. #715 Michael Atkinson to be Inspector General of the Intelligence Community, Office of the Director of National Intelligence

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Carson confirmed 77-21:

NAYs ---21
Baldwin (D-WI)
Booker (D-NJ)
Brown (D-OH)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Casey (D-PA)
Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harris (D-CA)
Hirono (D-HI)
Markey (D-MA)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Merkley (D-OR)
Murray (D-WA)
Peters (D-MI)
Reed (D-RI)
Sanders (I-VT)
Smith (D-MN)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Warren (D-MA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting - 2
Duckworth (D-IL)
McCain (R-AZ)

Nalbandian confirmed 53-45:

NAYs ---45
Baldwin (D-WI)
Bennet (D-CO)
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Booker (D-NJ)
Brown (D-OH)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Coons (D-DE)
Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harris (D-CA)
Hassan (D-NH)
Heinrich (D-NM)
Hirono (D-HI)
Jones (D-AL)
Kaine (D-VA)
King (I-ME)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Leahy (D-VT)
Markey (D-MA)
McCaskill (D-MO)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Merkley (D-OR)
Murphy (D-CT)
Murray (D-WA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Peters (D-MI)
Reed (D-RI)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schatz (D-HI)
Schumer (D-NY)
Shaheen (D-NH)
Smith (D-MN)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Tester (D-MT)
Udall (D-NM)
Van Hollen (D-MD)
Warner (D-VA)
Warren (D-MA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting - 2
Duckworth (D-IL)
McCain (R-AZ)

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Tomorrow, following the vote on Net Neutrality: Vote on confirmation of Exec. Cal. #607 Mitchell Zais to be Deputy Secretary of Education

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Zais confirmed on a 50-48 party line vote.

Not Voting - 2
Duckworth (D-IL)
McCain (R-AZ)

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Haspel passes CLOTURE 54-44:

NAYs ---44
Baldwin (D-WI)
Bennet (D-CO)
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Booker (D-NJ)
Brown (D-OH)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Coons (D-DE)
Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Duckworth (D-IL)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harris (D-CA)
Hassan (D-NH)
Heinrich (D-NM)
Hirono (D-HI)
Jones (D-AL)
Kaine (D-VA)
King (I-ME)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Leahy (D-VT)
Markey (D-MA)
McCaskill (D-MO)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Merkley (D-OR)
Murphy (D-CT)
Murray (D-WA)
Paul (R-KY)
Peters (D-MI)
Reed (D-RI)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schatz (D-HI)
Schumer (D-NY)
Smith (D-MN)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Tester (D-MT)
Udall (D-NM)
Van Hollen (D-MD)
Warren (D-MA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting - 2
McCain (R-AZ)
Young (R-IN)

Haspel confirmed 54-45:

NAYs ---45
Baldwin (D-WI)
Bennet (D-CO)
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Booker (D-NJ)
Brown (D-OH)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Coons (D-DE)
Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Duckworth (D-IL)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Flake (R-AZ)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harris (D-CA)
Hassan (D-NH)
Heinrich (D-NM)
Hirono (D-HI)
Jones (D-AL)
Kaine (D-VA)
King (I-ME)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Leahy (D-VT)
Markey (D-MA)
McCaskill (D-MO)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Merkley (D-OR)
Murphy (D-CT)
Murray (D-WA)
Paul (R-KY)
Peters (D-MI)
Reed (D-RI)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schatz (D-HI)
Schumer (D-NY)
Smith (D-MN)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Tester (D-MT)
Udall (D-NM)
Van Hollen (D-MD)
Warren (D-MA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting - 1
McCain (R-AZ)

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Next nominations to be considered:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

New VA nominee: Current Acting Sec. Robert Wilkie

https://twitter.com/edokeefe/status/997504442516811777

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Baiocco passes CLOTURE 49-45:

NAYs ---45
Baldwin (D-WI)
Bennet (D-CO)
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Booker (D-NJ)
Brown (D-OH)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Coons (D-DE)
Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Donnelly (D-IN)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harris (D-CA)
Hassan (D-NH)
Heinrich (D-NM)
Heitkamp (D-ND)
Hirono (D-HI)
Jones (D-AL)
Kaine (D-VA)
King (I-ME)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Leahy (D-VT)
Markey (D-MA)
McCaskill (D-MO)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Merkley (D-OR)
Murphy (D-CT)
Murray (D-WA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Peters (D-MI)
Reed (D-RI)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schatz (D-HI)
Schumer (D-NY)
Smith (D-MN)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Udall (D-NM)
Van Hollen (D-MD)
Warner (D-VA)
Warren (D-MA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting - 6
Capito (R-WV)
Duckworth (D-IL)
Hoeven (R-ND)
McCain (R-AZ)
Shaheen (D-NH)
Tester (D-MT)

--------

Noon Tomorrow: Final Vote on Baiocco

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Baiocco confirmed 50-45:

NAYs ---45
Baldwin (D-WI)
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Booker (D-NJ)
Brown (D-OH)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Coons (D-DE)
Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Donnelly (D-IN)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harris (D-CA)
Hassan (D-NH)
Heinrich (D-NM)
Heitkamp (D-ND)
Hirono (D-HI)
Jones (D-AL)
Kaine (D-VA)
King (I-ME)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Leahy (D-VT)
Markey (D-MA)
McCaskill (D-MO)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Merkley (D-OR)
Murphy (D-CT)
Murray (D-WA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Peters (D-MI)
Reed (D-RI)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schatz (D-HI)
Schumer (D-NY)
Shaheen (D-NH)
Smith (D-MN)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Tester (D-MT)
Udall (D-NM)
Van Hollen (D-MD)
Warner (D-VA)
Warren (D-MA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting - 5
Bennet (D-CO)
Cardin (D-MD)
Duckworth (D-IL)
Gardner (R-CO)
McCain (R-AZ)

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Confirmed by Voice Vote: Exec. Cal. #840 Cheryl Lydon to be U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina

U.S. Marshals Confirmed by Voice Vote: Exec. Cal. #841 Sonya Chavez to be U.S. Marshal for the District of NM; Exec. Cal. #842 Scott Kracl to be U.S. Marshal for the District of NE; Exec. Cal. #843 J. C. Raffety to be U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of WV

-----------------

3:15 ET tomorrow:

1. Confirmation of Montgomery (Asst. HUD Sec.)
2. Cloture on McWilliams (Cal. #670)
3. Cloture on McWilliams (Cal. #672)

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Montgomery confirmed 74-23:

NAYs ---23
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Brown (D-OH)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Casey (D-PA)
Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harris (D-CA)
Heinrich (D-NM)
Hirono (D-HI)
Markey (D-MA)
Merkley (D-OR)
Murray (D-WA)
Reed (D-RI)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schumer (D-NY)
Shaheen (D-NH)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Udall (D-NM)
Warren (D-MA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting - 3
Duckworth (D-IL)
Flake (R-AZ)
McCain (R-AZ)

----------

McWilliams (Cal. #670) passes CLOTURE 72-25:

NAYs ---25
Baldwin (D-WI)
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Booker (D-NJ)
Brown (D-OH)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harris (D-CA)
Heinrich (D-NM)
Hirono (D-HI)
Markey (D-MA)
Merkley (D-OR)
Murray (D-WA)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schatz (D-HI)
Schumer (D-NY)
Shaheen (D-NH)
Smith (D-MN)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Udall (D-NM)
Warren (D-MA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting - 3
Duckworth (D-IL)
Flake (R-AZ)
McCain (R-AZ)


------

McWilliams (Cal. # 672) passes CLOTURE 73-23:

NAYs ---23
Baldwin (D-WI)
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Booker (D-NJ)
Brown (D-OH)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harris (D-CA)
Heinrich (D-NM)
Hirono (D-HI)
Markey (D-MA)
Merkley (D-OR)
Murray (D-WA)
Schatz (D-HI)
Schumer (D-NY)
Smith (D-MN)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Udall (D-NM)
Warren (D-MA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting - 4
Duckworth (D-IL)
Flake (R-AZ)
McCain (R-AZ)
Sanders (I-VT)