Florida senator Marco Rubio announced his support for President Donald Trump’s pick for secretary of state ahead of a committee vote for the nominee Monday, setting aside reservations over the former oil executive’s ties to the Kremlin and evasive answers on human rights violations.
In a lengthy, critical statement, Rubio reiterated his doubts about former ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson, but indicated the necessity of deferring to Trump’s cabinet choices and to quickly confirm a nominee for the position.
“I believe the president is entitled to significant deference when it comes to his choices for the cabinet,” the statement read. “Given the uncertainty that exists both at home and abroad about the direction of our foreign policy, it would be against our national interests to have this confirmation unnecessarily delayed or embroiled in controversy.”
“Therefore, despite my reservations, I will support Mr. Tillerson’s nomination in committee and in the full Senate.”
Rubio grilled Tillerson during his confirmation hearing earlier this month, focusing on questions of moral clarity. Met with apparently unsatisfactory answers, Rubio told reporters outside the hearing that he was “prepared to do what’s right.”
The Florida senator made it clear he has not dropped his reservations Monday. Rubio reiterated Tillerson’s evasive answers in his statement, noting that the nominee would not call Russian president Vladimir Putin a war criminal, acknowledge human rights violations in China and Saudi Arabia, or commit to maintaining or ramping up sanctions against the Kremlin.
“Identifying certain actions as human rights violations is an integral part of the secretary of state’s job, but Mr. Tillerson implied that speaking out on human rights would hinder his ability to do his job as the nation’s chief diplomat,” the statement read.
“I remain concerned that in the years to come, our country will not give the defense of democracy and human rights the priority they deserve, and will pursue a foreign policy that too often sets aside our values and our historic alliances in pursuit of flawed geopolitical deals.”
Rubio’s vote on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where Republicans maintain a one-seat advantage, could prove decisive in clearing Tillerson for the position.
The Florida senator will join fellow Russia hawks South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham and Arizona senator John McCain, who, while also admitting lingering skepticism, announced support for Tillerson in a joint statement over the weekend.
“The views that Mr. Tillerson has expressed, both privately and publicly during the confirmation process, give us confidence that he will be a champion for a strong and engaged role for America in the world,” their statement said.
Tillerson maintained a longstanding business relationship with Russia and received the Order of Friendship from Putin in 2013. He was critical of sanctions levied by the United States after the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014.
