Florida's new senator blocks diplomat's nomination
By Lesley Clark | McClatchy Newspapers
WASHINGTON — A day after a South Carolina senator dropped his opposition to a top State Department nominee, Florida's new senator has put the brakes back on.
Republican Sen. George LeMieux said Friday he's blocking Thomas Shannon's nomination as U.S. ambassador to Brazil. Shannon is currently the assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs, the State Department's top Latin America diplomat.
"As a new senator from Florida and given our state's role in the region representing the gateway to Latin America, it is incumbent on me to fully vet all appointments of this magnitude," said LeMieux, who took office in September to complete the term of retiring Sen. Mel Martinez. "I intend to meet with Assistant Secretary Shannon to discuss my concerns about his nomination and U.S. foreign policy in the region."
South Carolina Republican Sen. Jim DeMint had blocked Shannon's nomination, along with that of Arturo Valenzuela to be assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs, in opposition to the Obama administration's handling of the crisis in Honduras. However, DeMint said Thursday he was assured that the administration would recognize upcoming elections in the country elections regardless of whether ousted President Manuel Zelaya is reinstated.
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