Energy Committee Chairman Mike Lee has accused Democrats of “delaying and obstructing” the confirmation of top energy nominees for President-elect Trump’s incoming administration.
“Senate Democrats are once again showing that delaying and obstructing the incoming Trump administration are their top priorities,” Lee told reporters in an exclusive statement.
Lee emphasized that the paperwork for both Gov. Doug Burgum and Chris Wright has been submitted to the Office of Government Ethics from their respective agencies. He asserted that the confirmation process is progressing as it should, with significant progress made to ensure these nominees are thoroughly vetted and ready to serve. The Energy and Natural Resources Committee has adhered to every rule in scheduling their confirmation hearings.
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Lee’s comments were in response to claims from his Democratic counterpart on the committee, ranking member Martin Heinrich. Heinrich suggested that Lee’s scheduling of confirmation hearings for Liberty Energy CEO Chris Wright, Trump’s pick for secretary of energy, and former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Trump’s choice for secretary of the interior, breached protocol.
This week, Heinrich responded to what he called “a breach of decades-long Senate protocol and precedent” when Lee set Burgum’s hearing without the consent of the committee’s minority.
“I am extremely disappointed that Chairman Lee has scheduled the first Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee confirmation hearing over my objection and before basic information has been given to the committee. This is a breach of protocol and precedent, established over decades by chairs of both parties,” Heinrich said in a statement Wednesday after Burgum’s confirmation hearing was officially set by Lee for Jan. 14.
Heinrich issued a second statement Thursday in response to Wright’s Jan. 15 confirmation hearing being officially scheduled.
“I am extremely disappointed that Chairman Lee has noticed a second nomination hearing without having received information from nominees required by law and in adherence to committee rules, including a completed FBI background check and financial report,” Heinrich said.
Heinrich emphasized that the documents the Energy and Natural Resources Democrats lack are not just paperwork. These documents, disclosures, and ethics agreements are required by committee rules and the law.
According to Lee, who assumed the role of chairman after Sen. John Barrasso was elected to serve as Senate majority whip, his actions are in line with committee precedent.
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Lee further maintained that he is “in full compliance” with all rules regarding the confirmation hearings for Trump’s key energy nominees.
While Heinrich accused Lee of going against precedent, a similar scenario occurred in 2009 during former President Obama’s administration. Steven Chu and Ken Salazar, the former secretaries of Energy and the Interior, respectively, had their confirmation hearings announced by former energy Chairman Jeff Bingaman before all documents were received.
In a statement to the Journalist, a Democratic spokesperson said that these are the only instances of this timeline of events, “despite dozens and dozens of nominees being considered by the committee.”
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“Further, unlike the hearings Chairman Lee has noticed, the committee did receive Dr. Chu and Mr. Salazar’s disclosures only one day after the notice was issued. Days have passed since Chairman Lee noticed these hearings. But the committee has yet to receive the required documents and has no assurance that it will receive them by the time the hearings occur,” the spokesperson added.