Republicans Rethinking Relationship with Schumer after Pompeo Incident

Schumer agreed to a Friday Senate vote for the confirmation of Kansas representative Mike Pompeo in exchange for a Republican concession to delay Pompeo’s hearing by one day, TWS reported Monday. The deal went awry when Oregon senator Ron Wyden and other Democrats objected to the Friday vote, pushing it to Monday, sources said. Wyden denied knowing about any agreement between Schumer and Republicans to TWS Monday.

A heated exchange between Schumer and Arkansas senator Tom Cotton on the Senate floor followed. Confronted with charges that he betrayed his word, Schumer said that his promise to allow Pompeo through applied to him alone and not that of 47 other Senate Democrats, according to sources that witnessed the exchange.

Senate majority whip John Cornyn told TWS Monday that the incident is causing Republicans to reevaluate relations with Schumer.

“I guess what we’re going to have to do is to find out when he does make a deal, is he speaking for himself or is he speaking for the Democratic caucus?” he said. “You didn’t have to wonder about that when you were dealing with Harry Reid.”

The incident does not help trust between Senate Republicans and Democrats, he added.

“I think we’re going to have to come to some sort of understanding, and I’m not sure what that is yet,” Cornyn said.

The Texas senator also cast doubt on Schumer’s explanation as to why the agreement fell through.

“Unfortunately a deal was made with Senator Schumer and I think it was assumed that he spoke for his conference,” he said. “Apparently that wasn’t the case.”

“We assume that when you’re the Democratic leader you’re empowered to speak for your caucus,” he added.

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr, who was involved in the agreement, denounced Schumer for his actions.

“He lied,” Burr told TWS. “I don’t make the same mistake twice.”