Trump’s Cabinet Nominees Encounter Intense Senate Confirmation Hearings
The U.S. Senate is advancing the confirmation process for President Trump's Cabinet nominees.
- Nominees RFK Jr., Tulsi Gabbard, and Kash Patel faced questions regarding their controversial backgrounds.
- RFK Jr.’s hearings focused on his past comments on vaccinations, raising concerns among senators.
- Gabbard received bipartisan criticism for not denouncing Edward Snowden as a traitor.
- Patel garnered Republican support despite scrutiny over his past remarks about January 6 and QAnon.
- Howard Lutnick, nominated for commerce secretary, acknowledged ties to cryptocurrency issuer Tether and pledged to divest personal assets if confirmed.
- Concerns were raised by Democrats regarding Tether’s reserves and potential misuse in illegal activities, which Lutnick addressed by emphasizing KYC compliance.
Upcoming Senate hearings will address the issue of debanking in the cryptocurrency industry, with Anchorage Digital's CEO scheduled to testify.
The House Financial Services Committee will discuss "Operation Choke Point 2.0," an alleged targeted attack on crypto companies' banking access, on February 6.