A Senate committee on Wednesday voted in favour of former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s nomination to be US ambassador to India, clearing the best way for Senate vote amid questions over his dealing with of a sexual harassment case. The Senate International Relations Committee authorized Garcetti’s nomination by a vote of 13-8, with Republicans Todd Younger and Invoice Hagerty becoming a member of Democrats in favour.
US President Joe Biden nominated Garcetti for the job in July 2021, and the Senate committee initially cleared his title in January 2022. However the bid was stalled as Republicans and a few democrats raised questions on his dealing with of a sexual harassment case from his time as mayor.
Senator Chuck Grassley launched a report concluding Garcetti “seemingly” knew or ought to have recognized {that a} former aide had dedicated sexual harassment and made racist feedback. Garcetti rejected the accusations, and a White Home spokesman beforehand referred to as the GOP-led report a partisan “hit job.”
Garcetti by no means acquired a full vote of the Senate earlier than the top of the congressional session in January, and Biden renominated him instantly in the beginning of the present session.
Requested concerning the Senate committee vote, state division spokesman Ned Worth stated that “put merely, the US wants a confirmed ambassador in India” given the nation’s significance.
“We did see the motion on the a part of the Senate at the moment. We heartily applaud that. US wants a confirmed Ambassador in India. Our workforce on the bottom, together with Cost d’ Affaires, who’ve served within the place of an envoy, have completed extraordinary work,” stated Worth.
“It will be within the pursuits of each of our individuals to have a confirmed Ambassador in place. We hope that the mayor and soon-to-be Ambassador Eric Garcetti is ready to take up that publish earlier than lengthy,” added Worth.
He stated that there isn’t a different nation all over the world that will put itself ready to have a emptiness open in a strategically vital and worthwhile place like India for 2-plus years.
“Now, we definitely hope that the motion that the Senate took at the moment foretells extra motion. US wants a confirmed Ambassador in India… There is no such thing as a different nation all over the world that will put itself ready to have a emptiness open in a strategically vital and worthwhile place like India for two-plus years,” added Worth.
(With inputs from businesses)