Ted Cruz holding up all State Department nominees over Russian pipeline

[Nevilledog]

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MSNBC
@MSNBC
The Senate’s push to confirm nominees to critical diplomatic positions has ground to a halt over objections from Sen. Cruz, 4 people with knowledge of the situation tell @NBCNews.

Ted Cruz holding up all State Department nominees over Russian pipeline
Thirteen nominees approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee are in indefinite limbo.
nbcnews.com
1:01 PM · Jul 2, 2021

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/ted-cruz-holding-all-state-department-nominees-over-russian-pipeline-n1273009?cid=sm_npd_nn_tw_ma

WASHINGTON - The Senate’s push to confirm nominees to critical diplomatic positions has ground to a halt over objections from Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who is holding up all State Department nominees to pressure the Biden administration over Russia’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline, four people with knowledge of the situation told NBC News.

Thirteen nominees approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee are in indefinite limbo as Cruz delays full Senate confirmation in an effort to get the administration to reverse its waiver of sanctions on the company overseeing the pipeline's construction. In most cases, the nominees would fill roles unrelated to U.S. policy toward the pipeline, which would carry natural gas from Russia to Germany.

Among those being blocked are Brett Holmgren, awaiting confirmation as assistant secretary of State for intelligence, and Daniel Kritenbrink, tapped for assistant secretary overseeing East Asia and Pacific affairs. Two undersecretaries — some of the most senior roles in the department — are also being held up, including one that oversees human rights and democracy.

A specialist works onboard the Allseas' deep sea pipe laying ship Solitaire to prepare a pipe for Nord Stream 2 pipeline in the Baltic Sea on Sept. 13, 2019.Stine Jacobsen / Reuters file
President Joe Biden’s pick for assistant secretary for international narcotics and law enforcement is also among those being delayed. Cruz is also holding up nominees for ambassadorships to a half-dozen African countries, including Somalia, Algeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

*snip*

[padah513]

1. That's why there needs to be a talking filabuster

Stop letting these a**wipes just say no and walk away. Make them debate.

[FBaggins]

2. It isn't a filibuster

He’s just denying unanimous consent. He can’t block anything… just slow it down.

[Blue Owl]

3. Trotsky Ted's Pinko Petroleum Pipe

He has no shame...