A “Smart Sec. of State”: Young Supports Pompeo, Carson is Dismayed

If Pompeo can’t recall the nature/contents of that March meeting, how is he somehow able to commit – beyond a shadow of a doubt – that Trump had never asked him to do anything “remotely improper”.

More recently, Pompeo told CBS News that while Obama didn’t want to upset Iran during the nuclear negotiations, the situation now is different.

MENENDEZ: Well, I want close, and I want clarity. “I am not going to weigh into the active investigations that are going on”.

Comey had publicly confirmed the existence of the investigation – which is looking into Russia’s interference in the 2016 U.S. election and whether the Trump campaign colluded with Moscow – two days earlier.

Coons, in particular, wanted to know if Pompeo believed the departure of either Mueller or Rosenstein would spur him to “resign your post as secretary of state in order to demonstrate that we are a nation of laws, not of men”. He said that in past negotiations the United States and the world had relaxed sanctions too quickly.

Speaking of the possibility of USA leaving the Iran deal that Trump has to decide around May 12, Pompeo said his objective was to “fix this deal”. Now serving as Trump’s Central Intelligence Agency director, the former Kansas congressman has been nominated to replace Rex Tillerson as America’s top diplomat.

“I haven’t given that question any thought”.

“I take a back seat to no one” when it comes to standing up to Russia, Pompeo said.

“At this crucial point in time, we need a chief diplomat who grasps the vital importance of protecting freedom of faith around the world, recognizing that so often conflict and instability are linked to the denial and attack of fundamental freedoms”.

Pompeo told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday that he hasn’t given the matter any thought.

As to the Taiwan Travel Act that took effect in March to bolster exchanges of visits by Taiwanese and US officials at all levels, Pompeo gave no answer when Gardner asked him: “What level would you authorize State Department personnel to visit Taiwan?”

Secretary of State nominee Mike Pompeo says that bolstering the Iran nuclear deal will be a priority if he’s confirmed by the Senate.

Secretary of State nominee Mike Pompeo says “no one is under any illusions” that a planned U.S.

Pompeo appeared to accept that Trump would no longer extend the sanctions waivers that let the United States hold up its end of the bargain, despite his own view that there is “no evidence that (the Iranians) are not in compliance” with the agreement.

“Your sense is should that happen, then you would continue after that time to try to create a better agreement?” said Corker.

Menendez also had stern words for Pompeo. “You’re going to be representing this country and their values overseas in nations where gays individuals are under untold persecution, untold violence”. “Will you advocate for robust diplomacy or will you take America into unnecessary and costly wars?”

Both France’s President Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel are due to visit Washington on separate official visits before May 12, in part to lobby Trump to preserve a deal they see as the best way to stop Tehran getting a nuclear bomb. That alignment of views stands in sharp contrast with the tense relationship former secretary of state Rex Tillerson had with Trump. And he pledged to pick up the phone “on the first ring” when lawmakers call.

Others had serious concerns about how Pompeo would perform as Secretary of State, which is one of the country’s oldest and most important positions, dating back to the administration of George Washington. He has also been criticized for his past opposition to gay rights. “I [can] give you many indications, many – many examples of where this administration has worked with those same allies”.

Pompeo responded, “You can look at my record”. He insisted that he is accepting of all people regardless of religion, and told Booker that what he meant was that Muslim leaders had an “opportunity” to speak out against terrorism. This is at the core of who I am, Sen.