WASHINGTON (AP) – Four Republicans on the Senate committee considering President Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of labor aren’t saying publicly if they will vote for him.
Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and three other senators – Tim Scott of South Carolina, Johnny Isakson of Georgia and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska – have said they won’t decide how to vote on fast-food executive Andrew Puzder’s nomination until after his Senate confirmation hearing Thursday.
That’s fueled a battle on social media and other platforms, as Republicans arm up against Democrats and their allies after other bruising confirmation battles over Trump nominees.
Collins and Murkowski joined every Democrat in voting against Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, with Vice President Mike Pence breaking a 50-50 tie. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has privately vowed to move Puzder’s nomination through despite questions about any potential conflicts of interests and other issues.
Meeting with reporters Monday, Collins mentioned that she’s watched Puzder’s ex-wife’s appearance in disguise as a victim of domestic violence on Oprah Winfrey’s talk show in the 1980s. The ex-wife, Lisa Fierstein, has recanted the abuse allegations against Puzder, made as part of their divorce proceedings. He has long denied the accusations, and in a Jan. 18 letter to the committee, she reiterated that “Andy is not and was not abusive or violent.”