Two Democratic senators on Friday delayed K.T. McFarland’s nomination to become U.S. ambassador to Singapore, requesting more information on her knowledge of contacts between President Trump’s campaign and Russian officials.
In a letter addressed to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Sens. Ben Cardin of Maryland and Cory Booker of New Jersey announced they were placing a hold on McFarland’s nomination until she “publicly clarifies” possible conflicts in her statements about contacts between former national security adviser Michael Flynn and Russia’s former ambassador.
“Ms. McFarland may have provided information to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that conflicts with recent media reports regarding her knowledge and involvement in matters pertaining to contacts during the Trump Presidential Transition between former National Security Adviser General Michael Flynn and Russia’s Ambassador to the United States Sergei Kislyak, among other matters,” the letter said.
Booker questioned McFarland in writing in July about whether she had ever spoken to Flynn about his communications with Kislyak before Trump took office.
“I am not aware of any of the issues or events described above,” McFarland wrote back.
The New York Times reported this week that an email exchange indicates McFarland was aware of a Dec. 29 call between the two men.
Trump announced McFarland’s nomination to the Singapore ambassadorship in May, a month after she stepped down from the National Security Council.
