Sen. Ben Sasse has reportedly been approached to lead the Heritage Foundation in a move that could signal efforts by the conservative think tank to distance itself from its pro-Trump past.
Sasse, who was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2014, was a strident critic of President Trump’s during the 2016 elections and gained national attention for refusing to vote for both Trump and Hillary Clinton last November.
But James Wegmann, a spokesman for the junior Nebraska senator, shrugged off rumors reported by Politico regarding the prospect of an appointment.
“Was just asked again if @BenSasse is going to run Heritage,” Wegmann tweeted. “Answer: Nope. But … ask me about Huskers offensive coordinator and I’ll dodge.”
Was just asked again if @BenSasse is going to run Heritage. Answer: Nope.
But … ask me about Huskers offensive coordinator and I’ll dodge.— James Wegmann (@jameswegmann) July 28, 2017
Heritage has been seeking a replacement for ousted former president Jim DeMint since DeMint left in May after a prolonged period of internal turmoil at the organization.
In the lead-up to his departure, DeMint had become a divisive figure among establishment Republicans and was often criticized for steering Heritage in partisan direction to the detriment of its research.
Heritage Foundation Board of Trustees member Kay Coles James said more than 200 people were being considered for the job.
“We have engaged a professional search firm and we look forward to reviewing the candidates they suggest,” Coles James said in a statement sent to the Washington Examiner.
