Schumer to Thune: Fully vet all Trump nominees

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has a message for his forthcoming successor, Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.): Democrats are ready to fully vet each of President-elect Donald Trump’s nominees — and Republicans should join them.

“The Senate plays a vital role in ensuring the President appoints well-qualified public officials that will dutifully serve the American people and honor their oaths to the Constitution,” Schumer said in a letter Monday morning. “Regardless of party, the Senate has upheld this sacred duty for generations and we should not and must not waver in our Constitutional duty.”

Schumer noted that review of selections typically includes “reviewing standard FBI background-investigation materials.”

The plea comes as Trump has called for the use of so-called recess appointments to fill out his Cabinet if the Senate won’t confirm his picks. Thune has called recessing for ten days — a requirement for recess appointments — “an option” to help Trump get his selections installed, but noted he’d need near-complete GOP cooperation to get that done.

Republicans senators have frequently vowed to continue their responsibility in providing “advice and consent” on Trump’s nominees when asked about picks that have concerned some senators, such as former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as head of Health and Human Services.