Virginia Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine won’t vote for CIA Director Mike Pompeo to become secretary of state, leaving Pompeo’s ability to get a favorable vote out of committee in peril.
Kaine, who voted for Pompeo to be CIA director, said on CBS’ “Face The Nation” he would not be voting for him again to be the nation’s top diplomat.
Kaine’s “no” vote means Pompeo’s nomination may not make it out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee with a favorable vote. Republican Sen. Rand Paul is leaning against voting for Pompeo and Vermont Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, who also voted for Pompeo to be CIA director, has concerns about him.
“I’ve decided to vote against him to be secretary of state. I did vote for him as CIA director,” Kaine said. “He has intel background that suited him for the position. But look, we have a president who is anti-diplomacy. And I worry that Mike Pompeo has shown the same tendency to oppose diplomacy. He was not just against the Iran deal when he was House member, he spoke about the relative ease of wiping out Iran’s nuclear capacity with [a] bombing run.”
It’s possible that Senate leaders use chamber rules to force Pompeo’s nomination out of committee to the floor for a vote without a favorable vote. He could still be confirmed even if the Senate Foreign Relations Committee doesn’t approve of his nomination.
But, Kaine said he thinks Pompeo will enable President Trump’s worst behaviors and not be a serviceable diplomat.
“[If] We’re going to have a floor vote. I’m telling what you my vote is,” Kaine said. “I don’t want a secretary of state who is going to exacerbate President Trump’s tendencies to oppose diplomacy.”
