Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman has been offered the Russian ambassador job by the Trump administration and is likely to accept the post, according to a new report.
According to Politico, Huntsman, who most recently served as U.S. ambassador to China under former President Barack Obama, is in the process of submitting paperwork and will formally accept the position.
Huntsman’s selection comes at critical time for relations between the two countries and as the FBI and Congress continues investigations into attempts by Russian President Vladimir Putin to help toss the election in Trump’s favor. The White House would not confirm the report on Wednesday when reached by the Washington Examiner.
The former Utah governor had been mentioned in recent weeks as a contender for the post or as deputy secretary of state. He also refused to rule out a 2018 run for the seat currently occupied by Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah. Hatch, who has become an ally of President Trump’s in the Senate, has not announced if he plans to seek an eighth term.
As recently as Tuesday, Huntsman declined to rule out a run for the seat while walking through the Capitol with Hatch. He also declined to discuss any potential administration post, including the Russian ambassadorship. Instead, he told reporters that he was in town “just to see a friend.”
Along with his stint in China under the Obama administration, Huntsman has served as ambassador to Singapore under former President George H.W. Bush and ran for the 2012 Republican nomination, which went to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.
