Sen. Tommy Tuberville on Thursday argued it is Democrats’ job, not Republicans, to vet President-elect Donald Trump’s nominees for his incoming administration.
“Who are we to say that we’re a better vetter and picker of people than Donald Trump?” the Alabama Republican said in an interview with CNN’s Manu Raju.
“You’re advise and consent. That’s your job.” Raju pointed out, noting that senators from all parties are tasked with vetting presidential appointees as part of checks and balances.
Tuberville: “That’s more the Democrats.”
Raju: “But don’t you think both sides should do the vetting?”
Tuberville: “Well, yeah, to some degree. I mean, but we have to be convinced. I mean, they should do all the background work. They should go after our nominees.”
The comments from Tuberville, a staunch Trump ally, come as several Republican senators are reportedly noncommittal about backing Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth amid allegations of excessive drinking and sexual assault. Tuberville expressed frustration that some of his colleagues were being critical of a Trump pick:
“I just can’t believe we even have people on our side that are saying, ‘Well, I’ve got to look at this, got to look at that.’ What they’re doing is, they’re throwing rocks at Donald Trump; they’re not throwing them at Pete Hegseth.”
