US
Senate Democrats
have postponed votes on several of President Donald
Trump's cabinet nominees , citing their responsibility to carry out "thorough vetting", while Republicans accused them of unreasonable delays.
Democrats on the
Senate Judiciary Committee
exploited Senate rules to delay a vote on Senator
Jeff Sessions' nomination to be attorney-general . That job was in the spotlight after President Trump fired acting Attorney-General
Sally Yates over her refusal to defend his executive order on immigration.
In an interview to Fox news, Vice President Mike Pence said President Trump "deserves his cabinet".
He added, "It's been very disappointing too me to see the level of obstruction that Senator
Chuck Schumer
and the Senate Democrats have put forward.If you compare to prior administrations, the pace at which the Democrats are forcing this process is a real disturbance to this country."
Senate Democrats were unapologetic, with their leader, Chuck Schumer, saying it was their obligation to "thoroughly vet" cabinet nominees. "And if it takes a little longer, they could be in office up to four years, and it makes eminent sense to get their views out," Senator Schumer told reporters.
Despite the delays, all three nominees are considered likely to be confirmed once their names are sent to the full Republican-led Senate.
Votes on Price, Mnuchin delayed Democrats also boycotted a meeting of the Senate Finance Committee where votes had been scheduled on Steve Mnuchin to be Treasury secretary and
Tom Price
to head the Health and Human Services Department.
Since at least one Democrat is required to be present for the committee votes to take place, no votes were held. It was unclear when the committee votes would be held.
Democrats on the Finance Committee said they were delaying votes on Mr Price and Mr Mnuchin because they wanted more information on Mr Price's stock trades in an Australian medical company and reports that Mr Mnuchin's former bank, OneWest, used automated "robo-signings" of foreclosure documents, which apparently contradicted statements the nominees had made to senators.