Pennsylvania senator, John Fetterman, has recently declared that he does not intend to vote in approval for the appointments of Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in their respective proposed roles. Fetterman, who holds the distinction of being the solitary Democratic leader to support Pam Bondi, the former attorney general under the Trump administration, has confidently voiced his opposition to the confirmations of both Gabbard and Kennedy.
Fetterman shared his sentiments on the matter, stating, ‘I have had in-person meetings with most of the nominees for the Cabinet and have also keenly observed their confirmation hearings. After careful deliberation about the consequences, I did not support advancing the confirmations of Ms. Gabbard and Mr. Kennedy, and will ultimately vote ‘no’ during their confirmation votes’.
Fetterman, who may have ambitions for the presidential seat come 2028, had surprisingly extended his support to then President Trump. This caused quite the controversy as he diverged from his Democratic colleagues to support Pam Bondi, leading to an uproar among critics who then implored him to switch affiliations and join the Republican Party.
Fetterman ignited further controversy with his revelation that he did not support the selection of Gabbard for the position of Director of National Intelligence and RFK Jr for the position of Health Secretary. He also surprised many by backing Trump’s proposition for the U.S. to assume control over the conflict-riddled Gaza Strip.
The confirmation of Gabbard and Kennedy Jr. is currently standing on shaky ground as the two are seen as contentious nominees for their positions. There has been some hesitation among Senators to push Gabbard’s nomination forward, which was only exacerbated by her lack of clarity during the hearing about whistleblower Edward Snowden’s standing with the U.S.
Kennedy was subjected to intense scrutiny during his hearing due to his controversial opinions on vaccines and other public health matters. Although he was quick to clarify that he did not oppose vaccinations, the Senators remained wary due to his previous remarks that drew skepticism.
Pam Bondi, in contrast, achieved Senate confirmation with a 54-46 vote. It’s notable that while Fetterman’s vote wasn’t a game changer in Bondi’s appointment, he was the sole Democratic senator who voted favorably for her, which became a significant talking point.
Fetterman was quick to defend his approval of Bondi by highlighting her qualifications, while also recognizing that she may not have been the optimal choice for the office of the attorney general. In his words: ‘She’s qualified, and while she may not have been my top pick, it seems that even Merrick Garland wasn’t everyone’s top choice either.’