Senate Committee narrowly approves Tillerson as secretary of state, must still pass full Senate

Record ID: 165370

  • Title: Senate Committee narrowly approves Tillerson as secretary of state, must still pass full Senate
  • Date: 23rd January 2017
  • Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (JANUARY 23, 2017) (UNRESTRICTED POOL - NO RESTRICTIONS) WIDE SHOT OF SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE AUDIENCE MEMBERS IN THE COMMITTEE PAN ACROSS COMMITTEE AS COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN SPEAKS (SOUNDBITE) (English) SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN BOB CORKER, REPUBLICAN OF TENNESSEE, SAYING: "I personally have no doubt that Rex Tillerson is well-qualified. He's managed the world's eighth largest company by revenue with over seventy-five thousand employees. Diplomacy has been a critical component of his positions in the past and he has shown himself to be an exceptionally able and successful negotiator who has maintained deep relationships around the world." (SOUNDBITE) (English) SENATOR BEN CARDIN, DEMOCRAT OF MARYLAND, SAYING: "The secretary of state is our principal soft power leader in this country. On several of the questions we asked him about current world events he was quick to point out that he would recommend the use of military force rather than leading with diplomacy." CHAIRMAN CORKER ANNOUNCING THAT A VOTE WILL BE HELD VARIOUS REPUBLICAN MEMBERS VOTING ON NOMINATION VARIOUS DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS VOTING ON NOMINATION (SOUNDBITE) (English) SENATOR MARCO RUBIO, REPUBLICAN OF FLORIDA, SAYING: "That's why on this nomination I have voted today to confirm Mr. Tillerson and will do again in the full Senate. But as I informed him today in our conversation, I stand ready to help him succeed. I hope he does become the best secretary of state our nation's ever had. DEMONSTRATOR BEING EJECTED FROM HEARING CORKER ANNOUNCING THAT THE COMMITTEE HAS VOTED TO RECOMMEND THE NOMINATION (SOUNDBITE) (English) SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN BOB CORKER (R-TN), SAYING: "The Yeas are 11 Nos are 10, the recommendation passes, he'll move to the floor and I thank everybody for their cooperation.” WIDE SIDE SHOT OF COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN CORKER AS HE STANDS UP AND LEAVES COMMITTEE ROOM
  • Embargoed: 6th February 2017 23:12
  • Keywords: Secretary of State Tillerson Exxon Mobil approve full Senate narrolwy approves
  • Location: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
  • City: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA00160AZ9DZ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee narrowly approved President Donald Trump's choice for secretary of state, former Exxon Mobil chairman Rex Tillerson, on Monday (January 23).
    The vote was 11-10, with every committee Republican backing Tillerson and every Democrat opposing his nomination.
    Tillerson is expected to be confirmed for the position when the matter comes before the 100-member Senate, where Republicans hold a 52-seat majority.
    U.S. Republican Senator Marco Rubio reluctantly backed Tillerson, in a move that all but secures Senate confirmation of the former Exxon Mobil Corp. chief executive as the nation's top diplomat later on Monday. 'I hope he becomes the best secretary of state our nation's ever had."
    A vote in the Republican-controlled Senate was expected shortly after the committee vote. Tillerson was expected to win confirmation, despite opposition from Democrats.
    At a confirmation hearing earlier this month, Tillerson's views appeared to be at odds with Trump's on key foreign policy issues such as nuclear proliferation, trade deals, climate change and relations with Mexico.
    The nominee also had a tense exchange with Rubio on whether he believed Russian President Vladimir Putin was a war criminal, in reference to Russia's military actions in support of Syria's government. Tillerson said he would not use that term.
    Tillerson, 64, also sidestepped questions on human rights, declining to condemn countries like Saudi Arabia and the Philippines for rights abuses.
    Over the weekend, fellow Republican Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham said they would back Tillerson despite their concerns over his relationship with Putin as CEO of one of the world's largest corporations.
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