Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has scheduled a unanimous consent vote Monday for current Army Secretary Mark Esper’s confirmation to become Secretary of Defense, with the Army former infantry officer’s Senate floor vote and expected approval scheduled for Tuesday.
The Armed Services Committee approved his nomination by voice vote Thursday, but it was not unanimous with Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) opposing, which has led to McConnell’s move to schedule Tuesday’s formal floor vote.
Warren had requested to be recorded as a “no” on Thursday’s voice vote and also indicated she would oppose McConnell’s unanimous consent request Monday, requiring the majority leader to set a formal floor vote.
Warren, a Democratic presidential candidate, offered sharp criticism during Esper’s confirmation hearing about potential conflicts of interest stemming from his previous tenure as a Raytheon lobbyist
Army photo by Spc. Dana Clarke
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When Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell steps down from his Senate leadership role after the November elections, he’ll have at least two more years in the Senate. Now he’s signaled one of his priorities as a rank-and-file Senator is to increase defense funding,...
