Senate began the confirmation of President Trump’s Cabinet candidates immediately.
On Capitol Hill, yesterday, three of his most controversial nominees were grilled: RFK Jr. Tulsi Gabard and Kash Patel. The three candidates are running for the positions of health secretary, director national intelligence, and FBI director.
RFK Jr. held two days of public hearings that centered on some of the more controversial comments he made in his past about vaccinations. Even some Republicans couldn’t support some of these views.
“Your past of undermining confidence in vaccines with unfounded or misleading arguments concerns me,” Bill Cassidy, a senator from Louisiana, said on Thursday that he has yet to decide how he will vote.
Gabbard, former Democratic congresswoman-turned-MAGA-celebrity, faced criticism from both sides. Gabbard was criticized by both sides.
Members of the Intelligence Committee also had an opportunity to ask Gabbard questions behind closed doors. It is also expected that the vote on her confirmation would be held in private. However, some Republicans want to see a public vote which could, theoretically, pressure their party into supporting Trump.
Of the three, Patel seems to have the most outward Republican support — or at the very minimum, the least Republican opposition. Democrats were worried about Patel’s comments in the past, such as his support for QAnon and praise for Jan. 6 rioters.
“I have no interest, no desire, and will not, if confirmed, go backwards,” Patel’s response to the concerns raised that he might abuse his position. “There will be no politicization at the FBI. There will be no retributive actions taken by any FBI.”
Howard Lutnick – who is vying for the job of Commerce Secretary – faced Senators on Wednesday. Lutnick will be voted on by the Senate Commerce Committee on February 5.
Notably, Lutnick confirmed his firm Cantor Fitzgerald has a convertible bond with cryptocurrency company Tether. This was the first public acknowledgement of the firm’s relationship with the stablecoin.
Lutnick said he also would sell “everything,” If he is confirmed, his assets will include both personal and business.
Several Democrats, including Sens. Maria Cantwell & John Hickenlooper questioned Lutnick regarding Tether.
“Tether did no business with anyone that wasn’t KYC appropriate,” Lutnick added that because the Blockchain is public, it makes it easier to track illicit transactions.
The GOP’s 53-47 majority means that it can afford only to lose 3 votes, should the Democrats vote against Trump’s nominees.
Outside of confirmation hearings senators have also been scheduled to discuss a critical pain point that affects a large part of the cryptocurrency sector: debanking. Next week, the Banking Committee will hold its first hearing. Nathan McCauley, CEO of Anchorage Digital is on the list of witnesses.
In the House of Representatives, on February 6, the Financial Services Committee is hosting an event on “Operation Choke Point 2.0,” The industry calls the supposed targeted attack against crypto companies, and the access they have to banking services. The names of the witnesses have yet to be published.
Unplug this weekend — there’ll be plenty of political drama to follow next week.
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