House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed openness on Sunday to using the recess appointment process to confirm President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet nominees if Senate confirmation becomes bogged down. In an interview on Fox News Sunday, Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, acknowledged the current partisan atmosphere and suggested that if Senate delays hurt the country, the recess appointment could be a solution. A recess appointment allows the president to bypass Senate confirmation during a legislative recess of at least 10 days. However, both the House and Senate would need to agree on adjournment, which is often avoided through pro forma sessions.
Johnson emphasized that while he hoped the Senate would fulfill its duty to provide advice and consent, he was willing to consider a recess appointment if necessary. He added that the situation would be evaluated at the appropriate time.
Other Trump allies, like Sen. Markwayne Mullin, also expressed support for recess appointments as a last resort if Senate confirmation becomes too difficult. However, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries warned that Democrats would work with Senate colleagues to block such efforts.
Johnson also addressed concerns about Matt Gaetz, Trump’s pick for attorney general. Gaetz, who resigned from Congress amid an ethics investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct, faced calls for transparency regarding the ethics report. Johnson, however, argued that the report should not be released since Gaetz was no longer a member of Congress, and senators would conduct their own vetting process.
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