Former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti was lastly confirmed by a break up vote within the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, March 15, to function the United States ambassador to India, 20 months after being nominated by President Joe Biden.
Garcetti, who was confirmed in a 52-42 roll name, was nominated in July 2021, however his nomination languished for months within the Senate as some speculated that he knew, or ought to have identified, about allegations of assault and sexual harassment dedicated by a former high aide to the then-mayor.
Victory for Garcetti, 52, was removed from a positive factor. With a number of Democratic defections arising on Wednesday morning, Garcetti’s destiny rested with allying with Republicans within the deeply divided Senate. He secured seven GOP votes to advance the nomination to a ultimate vote.
The president “believes that we have a crucial and consequential partnership with India and that Mayor Garcetti will make a strong and effective ambassador,” White House spokesperson Olivia Dalton mentioned after the vote.
A transfer by Senate Majority chief Chuck Schumer to again Garcetti to develop into the ambassador to India got here amid a rekindled marketing campaign towards Garcetti, who has repeatedly denied any information of sexual harassment accusations towards his former longtime confidante, Rick Jacobs.
The emptiness within the ambassadorship had created a major diplomatic hole for the Biden administration at a time of rising international tensions, together with China’s more and more assertive presence within the Pacific area and Russia’s warfare with Ukraine.
Some who work in D.C. raised issues that leaving the put up vacant would ship a message that the U.S. didn’t view relations with India to be vital.
To be confirmed on Wednesday, Democrat Garcetti wanted the assist of some Republicans within the Senate.
Ahead of Wednesday’s vote, Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine indicated that she would assist Garcetti’s nomination.
“I met with him personally. He clearly has an enormous amount of expertise about India,” Collins mentioned.
At concern over the previous 20 months was whether or not Garcetti was conscious of the alleged conduct of his longtime advisor, Jacobs.
A 2020 lawsuit filed by Los Angeles Police Department Officer Matthew Garza claims that Jacobs repeatedly harassed considered one of Garcetti’s police bodyguards. The go well with alleges Garcetti witnessed the misconduct however turned a blind eye to it.
Garcetti’s former communications director, Naomi Seligman, additionally claimed she was forcibly kissed by Jacobs and that Garcetti knew about Jacobs’ alleged sample of harassment.
Garcetti has denied allegations that he was conscious of and dismissed Jacobs’ actions.
An investigation requested by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, final 12 months concluded that it was “more probable than not” that Jacobs “sexually harassed multiple individuals and made racist comments towards others.” It additionally discovered it “extremely unlikely” that Garcetti was unaware of the conduct, saying that “by all accounts, Mayor Garcetti is very involved in the day-to-day operation of his office.”
The White House known as the report a partisan smear.
Last spring, as his nomination languished, Garcetti’s dad and mom truly employed a lobbyist to push for his affirmation. Months glided by, and in January Biden re-nominated Garcetti, setting the trail for his approval.
Stuart Waldman, president of the Valley Industry Commerce Association, mentioned instantly after Wednesday’s vote that he believes Garcetti is “the right person for the job.”
“He put a lot of effort into international affairs. That was one of the bright spots of his administration,” Waldman mentioned, noting that in Garcetti’s tenure as mayor, his administration sought to carry international traders to L.A.
After Garcetti was nominated to the India put up, Waldman mentioned he spoke with Garcetti, who urged VICA members to take one other journey to India as soon as he was there.“I think it’s a good spot for him,” Waldman mentioned about Garcetti’s latest task.
“He’s knowledgeable. He has the ability to connect foreign businesses with domestic businesses. A lot of people do business with India from L.A. Having an ambassador make that a priority is positive for everybody.”
Wednesday’s vote was clearly about greater than a single envoy’s function. It proved to be a litmus check of Democratic loyalty to Biden, and in addition measured assessments of Garcetti’s judgment and trustworthiness, stemming from the City Hall allegations that shadowed him within the #MeToo period.
“I think we can find somebody that will do the job better,” mentioned Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, one of many Democrats who signaled opposition to Garcetti as the ultimate vote neared.
Garcetti additionally did not win over Democrat Mark Kelly of Arizona, who mentioned he had “serious concerns.” Mazie Hirono of Hawaii joined that pair in voting towards Garcetti.
Republican Collins, nevertheless, mentioned: “India’s been two years without an ambassador, and that is far too long. And I am going to support (Garcetti).”
In all, Collins joined six different Republicans who voted to propel Garcetti’s nomination and, ultimately, affirm him: Bill Cassidy (Louisiana.), Steve Daines (Montana), Lindsey Graham (South Carolina.), Bill Hagerty (Tennessee), Roger Marshall (Kansas) and Todd Young (Indiana).
Garcetti’s affirmation comes on the heels of an embattled conclusion to his nine-year run as mayor.
Garcetti, son of former Los Angelese district lawyer Gil Garcetti and a Rhodes Scholar, took workplace in 2013 vowing to repair potholes and sidewalks and clear the air at notoriously corruption-plagued L.A. City Hall. Garcetti constructed up a log of early successes and even weighed a 2020 White House run.
But he left the workplace in turmoil, fraught with rising crime charges, a homeless disaster deemed uncontrolled, a metropolis financial system jolted by the COVID pandemic and enduring whispers over what he knew and when he knew it amid the sexual harassment scandal.
With reporting from The Associated Press and City News Service.
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