Senate advances Eric Garcetti’s nomination for ambassador to India
Washington — The Senate narrowly advanced the nomination of former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti to serve as U.S. ambassador to India on Wednesday, with Republican senators rewarding a political ally and early campaign supporter for President Biden. Helped clear the way.
The Senate voted 52 to 42 to clear a procedural hurdle and advance Garcetti’s ambassadorial nomination, with seven Republicans voting in favor of the nomination and three Democrats voting against it. A final vote on the nomination is expected Wednesday afternoon.
Garcetti’s bid for the New Delhi post has been mired in controversy after controversy. A Senate investigation found He was likely aware of sexual harassment and racist comments made by a former top aide when he was mayor of the nation’s second-largest city, a post he held from 2013 to 2022.
gave May 2022 reportCommissioned by GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley, the aide, Rick Jacobs, likely “sexually harassed multiple individuals and made racist comments against others.” Because Garcetti was “heavily involved in the day-to-day functioning of his office,” the report determined it was “highly unlikely” that the mayor was unaware of the behavior. Senate investigators noted that a report commissioned by the city of Los Angeles cleared the two men of wrongdoing, but determined that the findings suffered from “major flaws” that Questioned the results.
The White House condemned Garcetti, calling the Senate report a partisan attack. said He “strongly disagrees.[d]”With its findings, he called the investigation “one-sided” and “biased.” In his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in December 2021, Garcetti Testified that he “never testified to, nor was it brought to my attention, the conduct alleged.”
Photo by Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
The nomination breakthrough marks a victory for Garcetti, who previously entered the race for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. The vote was also a win for the White House, which refused to withdraw the nomination even as Garcetti’s support appeared on shaky ground.
President Biden initially nominated Garcetti for ambassador. In July 2021About two years ago. The president renominated Garcetti with the opening of the new Congress this year.
Garcetti endorsed Mr. Biden for president in early January 2020, a crucial time for Mr. Biden as he sought to fend off other Democrats in the primaries.
“Joe Biden is a close personal friend who has been an incredible partner in delivering progress for L.A.,” Garcetti said at the time. “He came to L.A. and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with me to make us the first major city to implement a $15 minimum wage, and the most comprehensive climate agreement before the Paris Agreement. brought leaders from around the world to our city to do.”
Jack Turman contributed reporting.
