The Senate confirmed President Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of State Rex Tillerson 56 to 43 Wednesday, with every Republican and three Democrats voting in support. The former Exxon Mobil CEO managed to quell doubts from top Republicans, but is sure to face scrutiny from still-skeptical lawmakers as Secretary of State.
Early on, senators raised concerns over Tillerson’s long-standing business relationship with the Kremlin. Florida senator Marco Rubio took the lead, grilling Tillerson on sanctions and Russian human rights violations during the then-nominee’s January confirmation hearing.
Tillerson received the Order of Friendship from Putin in 2013 and was critical of sanctions levied on Russia after the country annexed Crimea in 2014.
The former oil exec eased some doubts during the hearing and in meetings with senators, who were reassured by Tillerson’s expression of support for lethal defensive aid to Ukraine, his recognition that the Russian annexation of Crimea was illegal, and his support for NATO, among other views.
Arizona senator John McCain and South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham came out in support of Tillerson the day before Rubio in late January. The senators acknowledged that they had lingering reservations about Tillerson’s past business dealings with the Kremlin, but said they were confident he would champion American leadership.
“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 read.
Democratic senators Mark Warner of Virginia, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, and Joe Manchin of West Virginia also voted in favor of Tillerson on Wednesday, along with Independent Maine senator Angus King.
Tillerson will likely face internal challenges at the State Department, where hundreds of employees reportedly expressed dissent Tuesday to Trump’s executive travel ban.
