WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate confirmed two outstanding anti-Trump Republicans to serve within the Biden administration on Tuesday with former Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona permitted to function the ambassador to Turkey and Cindy McCain, the spouse of the late Sen. John McCain, permitted to function the ambassador to the United Nations Businesses for Meals and Agriculture.
The Senate additionally voted to verify former Democratic Sen. Tom Udall of New Mexico to function ambassador to New Zealand and Victoria Reggie Kennedy of Massachusetts, the widow of former Sen. Ted Kennedy, to function ambassador to Austria.
The nominations have been permitted by way of voice vote, a course of taking solely minutes that can be utilized as long as no senators object. Republicans, led by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, are requiring the overwhelming majority of Biden’s different State Division nominees to undergo a way more intensive and time-consuming course of.
Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., thanked senators for appearing rapidly on the 4 nominations, however mentioned he stays involved concerning the total tempo of confirmations for the president’s diplomatic corps.
“There are dozens of nations the place there isn’t a confirmed American ambassador, and I hope that this second of progress will probably be a predictor of different progress to come back quickly,” Coons mentioned.
Flake was a uncommon critic of former President Donald Trump amongst Senate Republicans. He served only one time period within the Senate, opting to not search reelection within the face of what was sure to be a troublesome GOP major.
McCain endorsed Biden within the presidential election, which on the time was considered as probably serving to Biden broaden his enchantment to Republicans and independents in Arizona, a vital swing state that her husband had represented in Congress for 35 years.