Corker: Democrats blocking Pompeo nomination to appease base that 'abhors' Trump

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker on Sunday dismissed criticism about Republicans “ramming” Mike Pompeo’s nomination as secretary of state through the chamber, saying Senate Democrats have blocked the “highly qualified” Pompeo from getting the post just to appease their anti-Trump base.   

“I don't think allowing people to vote is called ramming,” Corker, R-Tenn., said in response to the criticism on CNN. “This is a person who is highly qualified. He was first in his class at West Point, did The Harvard Law Review … knows more about what is happening in the world probably than anybody in America because of his post at CIA.”

Pompeo earlier this month appeared before the committee for a confirmation hearing and could face a vote as early as Monday from the panel’s 21 members who would recommmend, or not, that he get a final Senate floor vote and the State Department post.