Washington: A key senatorial committee on Wednesday voted 13-8 to advance the nomination of Eric Garcetti as US Ambassador to India. Garcetti, 52, is the previous mayor of Los Angeles and his nomination has been pending earlier than the US Congress since July 2021, when he was nominated for this prestigious diplomatic posting by President Joe Biden.
The Senate International Relations Committee at its enterprise assembly on Wednesday voted 13-8 in favor of the nomination of Garcetti. Now the nomination heads to the Senate flooring for a full vote. Two Republican Senators — Todd Younger and Invoice Hagerty — Wednesday afternoon voted in favour of Garcetti, becoming a member of the Democratic lawmakers and passing the nomination by way of the Senatorial committee.
Garcetti wasn’t confirmed in Biden’s first two years in workplace amid considerations by some lawmakers that because the then-mayor he hadn’t adequately dealt with allegations in opposition to a former senior adviser of sexual assault and harassment. Senator Chuck Grassley this week known as for voting in opposition to him.
GOP Senator Younger defended his choice to vote in favour of Garcetti. “It is in our nationwide safety curiosity to have an envoy instantly in place in India so as to stability China, work with the US all through the Indo-Pacific…He has an imperfect resume, however the abilities to achieve this capability,” Younger mentioned.
“We should be certain that any chief of mission will, with out query, defend our overseas service officers and embassy employees from all sorts of harassment,” mentioned Senator Jim Risch, Rating member of the Senate International Relations Committee.
The White Home continues to have full confidence in Garcetti. Final week it informed reporters that Garcetti is certified to function the US ambassador to India. “Eric Garcetti was voted out in a bipartisan approach out of (the Senate International Relations Committee). So clearly, he has had bipartisan help, which is essential on this course of.
We encourage and look ahead to the Senate shifting ahead together with his nomination on the ground,” White Home Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre informed reporters right here final week.
