President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team announced Tuesday that it has reached an agreement that will set the stage for the Justice Department to conduct background checks on Trump administration nominees and appointees and begin security procedures.
The agreement comes amid controversy over some of President Trump’s top government positions, including the leadership of the Department of Defense, Health and Human Services, FBI, and the position of director of national intelligence.
An agreement to have the FBI, a division of the Justice Department, conduct background checks on nominees and appointees would make it more difficult for Mr. Trump to hold such positions than some senators would have done without such an agreement. There is a possibility that they will not feel reluctant to vote to approve the selection of candidates.
In a statement, incoming White House chief of staff Susie Wiles said, “The agreement with the Department of Justice ensures that President Trump and his team are ready from day one to begin enacting the America First Agenda that the overwhelming majority of Americans support. It will be guaranteed that it will be in place.” The people were supported on election day. ”
President Trump’s transition team said in a memorandum with the Justice Department that “the transition team is authorized to submit names for background and security checks.”
“Ultimately, this will provide additional insight into the transition process and make it easier for federal agency landing teams to access the information they need to prepare for federal agency and department leadership,” the transition team said in a statement. said.
The memorandum comes a day after a New Yorker article detailing allegations of alcohol abuse, sexual impropriety and mismanagement of two nonprofit veterans organizations by Pete Hegseth, President Trump’s pick to be the next Secretary of Defense. Announced.
Shortly after President Trump announced his plans to nominate Hegseth, the former Fox News anchor was investigated by police for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman at a Republican Party event in California in 2017, but no criminal charges were filed against him. The news broke that it wasn’t there. Mr. Hegseth denies everything. Cheating.
Matt Gaetz, President Trump’s first nominee for U.S. attorney general, was named in November after renewed focus on allegations that the former Florida congressman had a sexual relationship with a girl in 2017 when she was 17 years old. He dropped out of the election campaign on the 21st. Gates also denies wrongdoing.
Over the weekend, President Trump announced that he would nominate Kash Patel, a longtime ally, to head the FBI.
Mr. Patel vowed last year to target judges, lawyers and journalists who he believed were politically motivated in the investigation into Mr. Trump.
“Whether it’s criminal or civil, we’re going to resolve it, but yes, we’re going to warn you,” Patel said in an interview with former Trump aide Steve Bannon. “We’re actually going to use the Constitution to indict them for crimes they say we’ve always been guilty of, but never committed.”
President Trump’s choice of former Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence is also controversial.
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Florida, told MSNBC that “she is a Russian agent,” referring to Gabbard, who would oversee 18 U.S. intelligence agencies as DNI if confirmed by the Senate. There’s no question that I think he’s a very likely candidate.”
President Trump’s pick for Secretary of Health and Human Services, vaccine skeptic and conspiracy promoter Robert F. Kennedy Jr., used heroin for years as a teenager and young adult.
Democratic senators have particularly pushed for background checks on all of President Trump’s nominees before they can be considered for Senate confirmation.
Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman told NBC News in an interview Tuesday that Hegseth’s nomination is part of an “ongoing conversation” among senators about Trump’s nominee.
But Fetterman said it was “very appropriate to conduct an FBI background check” to clarify the allegations against Hegseth.
“Hell, when you’re going to be in charge of the most lethal organization in the history of mankind, it would be entirely appropriate to have the FBI completely in the background of it all,” the senator said.
The incoming Republican chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, which will conduct Mr. Hegseth’s confirmation hearing, said Tuesday that some members of his own party have concerns about Mr. Hegseth.
“Some members have questions, and we’re looking for answers,” Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi) told NBC News.
– Additional coverage by CNBC christina wilkie
