Jan. 9—New Mexico’s senior senator objects to holding a nomination hearing for President-elect Donald Trump’s Energy secretary pick without a completed FBI background check and financial report.
On Thursday, Energy and Natural Resources Chair, Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, scheduled a nomination hearing for Chris Wright for Jan. 15. The committee’s ranking member Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., said in a statement that he is disappointed the hearing will come before a financial report or background check, which are required by committee rules.
“As I have made clear to Chairman Lee, the American people deserve transparency on the individuals nominated to serve them in the incoming administration,” Heinrich said in a statement.
The Energy Department focuses on maintaining the nuclear arsenal, reducing the threat of nuclear proliferation, overseeing U.S. energy supply and environmental clean-up of nuclear waste. Importantly for New Mexico, the Department of Energy oversees the 17 national laboratories, including Sandia and Los Alamos.
Trump’s pick Wright is the CEO of Liberty Energy and known for advocating for oil and gas development.
On Wednesday, Heinrich also criticized a nomination hearing for Trump’s Interior secretary pick, former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, over similar concerns. That hearing is scheduled for Jan. 14.
“The documents that the Energy and Natural Resources Democrats do not have are not just paperwork,” Heinrich said. “These are the documents, disclosures and ethics agreement that are required by our Committee rules and the law.”
Lee’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.