WASHINGTON — The pace at which Congress is moving to confirm Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees has split Colorado’s two U.S. senators along partisan lines, with Democrat Michael Bennet calling for more caution and Republican Cory Gardner defending the schedule as similar to that of previous administrations.
Their statements come during a busy week for the Senate, which is holding confirmation hearings for several nominees, including Alabama Sen. for U.S. Attorney General.
The schedule has prompted criticism from Democrats and liberal groups, who have complained the pace hasn’t given enough time for federal watchdogs to the necessary disclosure documents that could reveal a possible conflict of interest – or give lawmakers the time to digest the information.
Asked about the schedule, Gardner said in a statement that it was not out-of-the-ordinary.
“The pace of the confirmation hearings is not unusual and history proves it,” Gardner said. “For example, the Senate held multiple hearings prior to President Obama’s swearing in, and confirmed seven of his nominees the day of his inauguration.”
But his staff noted that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said recently that the Senate on nominees until the ethics reviews are complete.
A spokeswoman for Bennet said a quick completion of the ethics reviews is imperative.
“While the Presidentap nominees deserve a fair review, we need basic information about their finances and potential conflicts of interest,” said Laurie Cipriano, a Bennet spokeswoman. “Itap unprecedented for the Office of Government Ethics to express ‘great concern’ about the lack of completed ethics reviews prior to these hearings.”
