Schumer sends McConnell back his own 2009 letter on nominations

Schumer said he sent McConnell the exact letter McConnell sent to then-Majority Leader Harry ReidHarry Mason ReidWhite House seeks to shield Biden from GOP attacks on crime issue Lobbying world Warner backing 'small carve-out' on filibuster for voting rights MORE (D-Nev.) in February 2009 about President Obama's nominees. 

 

"In 2009, then-Minority Leader McConnell sent then-Majority Leader Reid a letter laying out his list of pre-requisites for time agreements on the floor for President Obama’s nominees," he said from the Senate floor. "They are almost exactly what Democrats have requested." 

 

McConnell sent the letter after many Obama nominees, including Secretary of State Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonBriahna Joy Gray: Progressives like Turner should reconsider running as Democrats Biden wishes Obama a happy birthday Ohio special election: A good day for Democrats MORE, had already been confirmed. The senator's staff argued on Twitter Monday that the letter was aimed at lower-level nominations. 

 

Schumer also tweeted out an edited copy of his letter on Monday, which shows him marking out McConnell's signature and writing in his own. 

McConnell's 2009 requirements include an ethics agreement letter and financial disclosures being submitted to a Senate committee before a hearing.   

 

Schumer's move comes as the Senate is expected to have confirmation hearings for nine of President-elect Donald TrumpDonald TrumpMajority of Americans in new poll say it would be bad for the country if Trump ran in 2024 ,800 bottle of whiskey given to Pompeo by Japan is missing Liz Cheney says her father is 'deeply troubled' about the state of the Republican Party MORE's nominees this week. 

 

Democrats have blasted the schedule, arguing Republicans are rushing to confirm Trump's nominees without proper vetting. 

 

The Office of Government Ethics has released financial disclosures and ethics letters for five nominees that will get hearings this week: Rex Tillerson, Trump’s pick to be secretary of State; Sen. Jeff SessionsJefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsWant to evaluate Donald Trump's judgment? Listen to Donald Trump Democrat stalls Biden's border nominee Garland strikes down Trump-era immigration court rule, empowering judges to pause cases MORE (R-Ala.), his pick to be attorney general; Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.), his pick for CIA head; Elaine Chao, his pick to be Transportation secretary and McConnell's wife; and retired Marine Gen. James Mattis, his pick to lead the Pentagon.

 

McConnell pledged over the weekend that no nominee would get a full Senate vote before all of their paperwork has been turned in.

 

He added on Monday after meeting with Trump that "everybody will be properly vetted as they have been in the past."

 

Democrats face an uphill battle to block any of Trump's nominees, who only need 50 votes to clear the upper chamber.

 

But any one senator could slow down the confirmation process, potentially undercutting the GOP's push to confirm up to seven nominees on "day one."