President Trump’s nominee for the number-two position at the Treasury Department gained approval from a Senate panel Wednesday, but now faces opposition on a final vote from Democrats seeking leverage to investigate possible ties between President Trump and Russia.
Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, the top Democrat on the Finance Committee, affirmed Wednesday morning that he would place a hold on the nomination of Justin Muzinich to be deputy Treasury secretary “until the department quits stonewalling our oversight requests.”
Wyden has sought to block all Trump Treasury nominees until the department provides documents related to Trump’s financial ties to Russia. On Wednesday, he made it official that Muzinich will not be an exception.
Nevertheless, the committee’s Republicans banded together to favorably report Muzinich on a partisan 14 to 13 vote. Muzinich, a former banker, has been serving as an aide to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, and played a major role in the passage of the major tax overhaul last year.
Recent actions by the Treasury have stoked Democratic anger even hotter. Last month, the administration moved to allow some nonprofit organizations not to provide the IRS with donor names, a change that Democrats allege will generate more “dark money” in politics. This week, the administration has entertained the idea of pursuing a unilateral capital gains tax cut, bypassing Congress to provide a tax break for the rich that Democrats would oppose.
On Wednesday, Hatch accused Democrats of “grandstanding” over the Treasury’s actions, and defended the regulatory changes to the IRS disclosures.
Trump has previously named two picks for the deputy secretary spot, but both withdrew before going through confirmation.
