Former Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti became the US ambassador to India on Wednesday after seven Republicans voted in his favor despite a sexual misconduct scandal involving one among Garcetti’s top aides.
The Senate voted 52-42 to confirm Garcetti, 52, whose nomination process was stalled after his former right-hand man Rick Jacobs was accused of sexual assault, harassment and racist remarks. Garcetti had already passed the crucial test vote within the Senate held hours earlier by the identical margin.
Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Roger Marshall of Kansas, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Steve Daines of Montana, Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, Todd Young of Indiana, and Susan Collins of Maine voted to endorse Garcetti.
“For greater than two years, the Biden administration and Senate Democrats have failed to secure a Senate-approved ambassador to India – the world’s largest democracy, emerging economic power and one among our most vital strategic partners within the Indo-Pacific region,” Hagerty said in an announcement. “As a former US ambassador to Japan, I do know firsthand that it is a critical US diplomatic position. Our relationship with India is central to our strategic interests within the Indo-Pacific region.”
Democratic Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, Sherrod Brown of Ohio, and Mazie Hirono of Hawaii voted against Garcetti.
“Let’s just say I believe we are able to find someone to do the job higher,” Brown told the Associated Press ahead of the vote.
Meaning. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Dianne Feinstein (D-California) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) didn’t vote as they each withdrew from congressional duties to receive treatment or get better from injuries. Also absent were Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and John Barrasso (R-Wyo).
“The relationship between the USA and India is incredibly essential, and it’s totally good that we now have an envoy,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said after the test vote.
Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, said in a Tuesday statement that he strongly opposes Garcetti’s endorsement since the California politician “has allowed sexual harassment and racism to spread within the Los Angeles mayor’s office.” “
“When the nomination expired, I used to be hoping President Biden would acknowledge his glaring mistake, consider the victims and alter course,” Grassley added. “President Biden failed to try this. Hopelessly, at the identical time the Biden administration denounces sexual harassment and racism, it has now twice nominated an individual to represent our country abroad who has enabled the identical disgusting acts.”
Grassley and her Iowa Republican senator, Joni Ernst, withheld Garcetti’s nomination last 12 months to investigate the allegations. Although the nomination expired in January 2023, Biden selected to rehire Garcetti for the role relatively than select another person.
Senator Mitt Romney (R-Utah), who serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told reporters last week that the allegations against Garcetti were serious and that he couldn’t back up his confirmation.
“I believe that disqualifies him for the position,” he said.
Garcetti, who was initially chosen as ambassador in Latest Delhi in July 2021 after serving as co-chair of Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign, can be installed in one of the crucial essential diplomatic posts to guide Washington’s approach to China.
Garcetti previously served on the board of directors of the Asia Society affiliate, a non-profit group affiliated with Chinese firms and organizations that propagated Beijing-backed propaganda, reports the Washington Free Beacon.
Garcetti served as mayor of Los Angeles from 2013 to 2022, having served on the town council for 12 years prior. Former US Representative Karen Bass (D-California) succeeded Garcetti as the town’s mayor in January.
Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Sick.) admitted to reporters ahead of Wednesday’s vote that he had not “whipped [Garcetti’s] nomination”, which put the fate of confirmation in query.
Senator Republican Whip John Thune of South Dakota said on Tuesday that “having this position open for therefore long to an awesome ally like India just isn’t a great thing.”
He added: “But at the identical time, while you put someone in such a very important position, you wish to: first, make sure that they’re qualified; second, that they’ve the character to do the job.”
A Los Angeles police officer and former mayoral spokeswoman accused Jacobs of sexual harassment when he served as Garcetti’s deputy chief of staff from 2013 to 2016.
The officer, Matthew Garza, and communications director, Naomi Seligman, said Jacobs engaged in unwanted physical contact, forcing Seligman at one point during her tenure.
The accusations sparked a 310-page report that was delivered to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last November, and senators delayed Garcetti’s vote to review it. A report by the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office cleared Garcetti of the costs.
But Grassley said his office had independently “identified greater than 19 individuals who either witnessed or were victims of Jacobs’ behavior,” including “his former director of security, the department’s officer assigned to protect him.”
Garcetti testified at a confirmation hearing in December 2021 that he “never witnessed” the behavior, “nor was it brought to my attention.”
Months later, the White House expressed “trust” in Garcetti despite the allegations.
“The president has confidence in Mayor Garcetti and believes he can be a wonderful representative in India,” said then-White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki in March 2022. “His nomination was approved unanimously with bipartisan support within the committee. The White House and the State Department are calling senators and dealing to garner bipartisan support for his nomination. He should get a vote within the Senate quickly.”
Hagerty and Young voted the identical month to go to a vote to approve Garcetti, receiving a reprimand from Senate Foreign Relations Committee member Jim Risch (R-Idaho).
“While information continues to be gathered about his knowledge of abuse by a former senior counsel, the brand new evidence has raised enough questions on his assessment that I can be voting against it,” he said.
But Young told the Wall Street Journal last week that “it’s a national security duty to have an envoy to India immediately.”
“We won’t afford to wait any longer,” he said.