Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, chairman of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, has accused Senate Democrats of delaying and obstructing top energy nominees for President-elect Trump's incoming administration. Lee emphasized that the confirmation process for Gov. Doug Burgum and Chris Wright is progressing as it should, with their paperwork submitted to the Office of Government Ethics.
Lee defended his actions, stating that the Energy and Natural Resources Committee has followed all rules in noticing the confirmation hearings, despite claims from Democratic ranking member Martin Heinrich that the scheduling breached protocol. Heinrich expressed disappointment over the hearings being set without the consent of the committee's minority.
Heinrich highlighted the importance of receiving required documents, including FBI background checks and financial reports, before proceeding with the confirmation hearings. He criticized Lee for not adhering to committee rules and the law in this regard.
However, Lee maintained that his actions align with precedent in the committee and assured that he is in full compliance with all rules when setting up confirmation hearings for key energy roles in the Trump administration.
The dispute between Lee and Heinrich echoes a similar situation in 2009 during former President Obama's administration, where confirmation hearings for key energy secretaries were announced before all documents were received. Despite the ongoing disagreement, Lee's stance is that the committee is moving forward in line with established practices.
While Heinrich raised concerns about the lack of essential disclosures, Lee pointed out that the committee has yet to receive the required documents for the upcoming hearings. The clash underscores the differing perspectives on procedural adherence and the urgency of confirming key nominees for crucial energy positions.
