Menendez Blames Trump for Not Filling Diplomatic Posts, Then Blocks Them

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo turned the tables on Sen. Bob Menendez (D., N.J.) this week, blaming the New Jersey Democrat for blocking at least a dozen qualified candidates for key diplomatic posts.

Over the last year, Menendez has repeatedly blasted President Trump for jeopardizing U.S. foreign policy by failing to nominate candidates for key foreign policy posts.

Menendez, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, took the administration to task in a Senate floor speech in March for failing "to nominate critical high-level positions—undersecretaries, assistant secretaries—leaving a void of empowered voices."

Menendez continued the same line of criticism this week. While reacting to U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley's resignation, the New Jersey Democrat argued that the administration's "inability to adequately or appropriately fill key national security positions puts our nation at risk."

The statement angered Pompeo, who tangled with Menendez during his own Senate confirmation process and several times since...

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