Banking Committee Goes into Closed Session During Markup for Trump Nominees

Banking Committee Goes into Closed Session During Markup for Trump Nominees

Watch the first exchange here (YouTube) | Watch the second exchange here (YouTube)

Washington, D.C. - Today at the markup to advance Trump's NCUA, HUD IG, and CEA nominees, the Banking Committee went into a closed session after U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, raised questions after having been briefed about the FBI background investigation into the nominees.

Below is Ranking Member Warren's remarks requesting to move Committee into closed session:

Ranking Member Warren: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

And, before I get into my opening, I want to raise a concern that you and I had a chance to discuss last night. We have both been briefed on the FBI background investigations for the nominees that we are scheduled to vote on this morning. I appreciate your always talking these issues through, even sometimes very late at night.

I'm not going to get into the details, given the limitations and the rules on what can be discussed in public session. But the briefing left me with some significant questions that have not yet been answered. We should put off this markup until we have confidence that the FBI has run down all the answers. All of our colleagues on this Committee, Democrats and Republicans, have a right to be fully up to speed, fully informed on these issues before being asked to vote for or against nominees.

We have a job to do here - the Constitution gives us the power of advice and consent. Because we are limited in what we can say publicly, Mr. Chairman, I move that we go to closed session.

Chairman Scott: Is there a second?

Senator Reed: There's a second.

Chairman Scott: At this time, we'll ask the room to be cleared.

Below is the transcript of Ranking Member Warren's second exchangeto move Committee into closed session:

Chairman Scott: Just for clarity's sake -- we are now back in open session. We're now gonna have a vote to go back into closed session to discuss the underlying issue.

[Clerk calling the roll]

Chairman Scott: Point of clarification before you call the vote. My understanding is to have a prevailing vote you must be present, the majority has to be present. You can't win a vote by proxy.

Clerk: That holds for matters voted out of committee, like nominees or legislation.

Chairman Scott: Not internally?

Clerk: No.

Chairman Scott: Thank you.

Senator Moreno: Mr. Chairman, just so, can I ask a point of order? This was a decision that was made five minutes ago. I'm just curious how all these proxies came in.

Ranking Member Warren: I have the proxy of my members.

Senator Moreno: So they knew there was going to be a vote?

Ranking Member Warren: My members have given me their proxy for what happens this morning.

Senator Moreno: For anything? I'm just asking a point of order.

Ranking Member Warren: I have specific proxies. Thank you.

Chairman Scott: Have they been shared with the clerk?

Ranking Member Warren: Happy to share them with the clerk.

Chairman Scott: They have been shared with the clerk? The proxies?

Clerk: Yes.

Chairman Scott: Good job.

Clerk: The vote is 12 ayes and 10 nays.

Chairman Scott: We will go back into an executive session, closed session. So, unfortunately, we'll see you in a few minutes and talk.

###

• Print
• Email
• Tweet