Coburn: Dems wrong for DHS move

Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) on Thursday criticized Senate Democrats for moving to confirm a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official who is currently under investigation for abusing his current position, something the Senate was preparing to do early Friday morning.

Coburn said he reviewed the history of the Senate, and said there is no precedent for confirming anyone under investigation in any way.

{mosads}”It’s never been done before,” he said on the Senate floor. “We’re doing a disservice both to this nominee and to the department that he will fill.”

Alejandro Mayorkas is currently the director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. He’s under investigation by the DHS Office of the Inspector General for improperly getting investment visas for GreenTech Automotive.

Coburn cited several examples in which past administrations nominated people who were under any type of investigation. In each case, the Senate decided not to advance the nominee until the investigation was cleared up.

Read more from The Hill.