Sen. Thune suggests staying through weekend to confirm Trump picks after Dems delay votes: 'Shouldn't be hard'

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., showed vexation with Democrats connected Tuesday aft a confirmation ballot for President Trump's prime for CIA manager successful John Ratcliffe, who has bipartisan support, was blocked.

Speaking connected the Senate level aft the ballot was blocked by Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., Thune said the Senate tin stay successful league each play to corroborate Trump's picks if advancement continues to beryllium delayed.

"Do we privation a ballot connected these folks connected Tuesday oregon ballot connected them connected Friday, Saturday and Sunday? Because that's what we're going to do. This tin beryllium casual oregon this tin beryllium hard," Thune said. "This is astir America's national information interests, and we're stalling, truthful that's not going to happen."

NEW GOP SENATOR TEARS INTO DEMS 'SEEKING TO DELAY' PETE HEGSETH DOD CONFIRMATION

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., was frustrated with Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., aft helium blocked a confirmation ballot for John Ratcliffe arsenic CIA manager connected Tuesday. (Reuters)

Ratcliffe was approved by the Senate Intelligence Committee by a bipartisan ballot of 14 to 3. Because of that, Thune said the ballot to corroborate him "shouldn't beryllium hard."

"Democrats and Republicans, successful a precise large bipartisan fashion, hold that helium is precise qualified for this job," Thune said, adding that helium isn't definite what stalling accomplishes.

When blocking the vote, Murphy said galore Democrats person "serious concerns" astir Ratcliffe's quality to enactment as CIA director due to the fact that helium "repeatedly politicized intelligence" during his 8 months arsenic National Intelligence manager successful 2020.

"I don't deliberation it's excessively overmuch to inquire to marque definite that we person a full, existent statement that lasts 2 days connected the Senate floor," Murphy said connected Tuesday.

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said determination needed to beryllium 2 much days of statement earlier John Ratcliffe could beryllium confirmed arsenic CIA manager due to the fact that of Democrats' "serious concerns." (Valerie Plesch/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

CONFIRMATION DELAYS STACK UP FOR TRUMP NOMINEES AS PAPERWORK LAGS IN FEDERAL OFFICES

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., who leads the Senate Intelligence Committee, said the hold is for "no bully reason" and is simply an effort "to resistance retired each of these nominations to play procedural games."

Cotton noted that portion the Democrats acted successful akin manner successful 2017 with Trump's archetypal medication and the Republicans successful 2021 with Biden's picks, that this didn't hap during confirmation votes anterior to the past 2 elections.

"We should particularly get backmost to that signifier erstwhile it is simply a highly accomplished, well-qualified nominee of integrity, similar John Ratcliffe," Cotton said. "Now we're going to rotation our wheels for 2 days. But, arsenic I said, don't marque plans for the weekend. Don't person immoderate meal dates scheduled starting connected Thursday nighttime due to the fact that we're going to get these nominees done the easy, collegial way. Or seemingly the hard way."

John Ratcliffe served arsenic manager of National Intelligence for 8 months during President Trump's archetypal administration. (Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Only 1 of Trump's Cabinet nominees has been confirmed frankincense far, and that was erstwhile Florida legislator Marco Rubio arsenic Secretary of State. He was confirmed connected Monday by a unanimous vote.

Several nominees person precocious retired of committee votes portion others inactive await confirmation hearings.