INTERVIEW – SUSAN FERRECHIO – chief congressional correspondent for the Washington Examiner – discussed the latest Congress news.
- Lawmakers seek answers after Ryan asked House chaplain to resign. Washington (CNN) House Speaker Paul Ryan requested the House chaplain resign from his post earlier this month, and several prominent Democratic lawmakers want to know more information as to why the Jesuit priest was asked to step down. Father Pat Conroy resigned April 15 after he spent nearly seven years praying at the outset of House sessions. He wrote two versions of his resignation letters, which were both obtained by CNN by a congressional source. In the first letter, he wrote “as you requested, I hereby offer my resignation…” The second letter didn’t include that he was requested to resign. The first letter also said that Ryan should consult with his chief of staff on a resignation date, but the second letter stated his last day would be May 24.
- GRENELL // Senate approves Trump’s new ambassador to Germany after months of delay. (Washington Examiner) — The Senate on Thursday confirmed President Trump’s long-stalled nominee to serve as ambassador to Germany. Richard Grenell was approved in a 56-42 vote after pressure from President Trump and conservatives to clear him ahead of German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s arrival on Friday. Trump selected Grenell for the job in September, but his nomination languished, and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., blamed opposition from Democrats. They opposed Grenell over tweets critical of women, including Hillary Clinton, who Grenell once tweeted was “starting to look like Madeleine Albright.”
- Amb. Grenell Confirmed, to Meet With Trump, Germany’s Merkel. Now, the same sources, say Amb. Grenell will participate in the Trump-Merkel meeting. In assuming the Berlin portfolio, Grenell also becomes the highest gay appointee in the Trump administration. Senate Democrats had held up Grenell’s nomination because of several controversial tweets he made. In hearings before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the nominee apologized for the remarks and said he would be careful about what he tweeted as ambassador. Although Grenell made it out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on a straight party-line vote, no less than six Democrats voted to confirm him on the Senate floor: Sens. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind.; Doug Jones, D-Ala.; Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D.; Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.; Jon Tester, D-Mont.; and Claire McCaskill, D-Mo. All Republicans present voted for Grenell’s confirmation. The White House placed a high priority on Grenell’s confirmation.
- Senate confirms Mike Pompeo as Trump’s secretary of state. The Senate on Thursday confirmed Mike Pompeo to serve as secretary of state with the help of a few red-state Democrats facing tough re-election bids. Pompeo was approved in a 57-42 vote that cleared him to start work a day ahead of a critical NATO summit scheduled for Friday. Six Democrats ended up voting for Pompeo: Joe Donnelly of Indiana, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, Doug Jones of Alabama, Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Claire McCaskill of Missouri and Bill Nelson of Florida. Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, also voted for him. Pompeo has been serving as CIA director, and earlier this month held a landmark meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to lay the groundwork for a summit with President Trump in the coming weeks. Republicans touted Pompeo as the most qualified and experienced candidate to fill the post, but he generated staunch opposition from Democrats, including those who approved him for CIA director last year. Democrats said they feared Pompeo is too hawkish and will not put diplomacy ahead of military solutions.
