Ed Markey misses key votes on Trump appointees

Sen. Edward Markey, who has cast himself as a leader in the resistance against President Trump, missed two key votes on controversial Trump appointments, according to roll call tallies.

Markey was recorded as “not voting” Tuesday on Trump’s appointment for director of national intelligence, U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe, according to the official Senate roll call vote.

Ratcliffe, who initially withdrew his nomination last year in the face of stiff bipartisan opposition, was confirmed on a partisan 49-44 vote, with Markey on the sidelines along with six other senators who didn’t vote. Markey’s Massachusetts colleague, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, was there and voted against Ratcliffe.

Among those who missed the vote were two other Democratic senators, Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Patty Murray of Washington, records show.

Markey was also a no-show for the vote Tuesday on Trump’s nominee to oversee the one of the government’s massive coronavirus relief programs, Brian Miller.

Miller was confirmed on a sharply partisan 51-40 vote to serve as Treasury Department special inspector general for pandemic recovery.

Miller, who most recently served in Trump’s White House counsel office, will be responsible for watching over the Treasury Department’s $500 billion coronavirus relief program.

Markey was in Boston Monday night for a debate against his re-election opponent, U.S. Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy III.

Markey’s Washington office spokeswoman, Giselle Barry, did not respond to questions from the Herald about why Markey missed the votes, but said he was in Massachusetts all day Wednesday.

During his re-election campaign, Markey has cast himself as the candidate best equipped to take on Trump’s policies.

On Monday before his debate, Markey called Trump “scum” for his comments on getting tough on demonstrators who are protesting the killing of George Floyd.

“Donald trump is scum for fueling racist hate and violence in our country,” the junior senator tweeted.

While Markey was apparently not in Washington for the votes on Trump’s nominees, one place he wasn’t at on Tuesday was the Black Lives Matter protest in Franklin Park. The organizer of that protest actually singled Markey out in her remarks for missing the event and praised Kennedy for joining the protest.

Barry said Markey planned to join protesters in Boston Common Wednesday night after spending the day in meetings with Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins and others to announce his resolution to “abolish qualified immunity and hold officers accountable for police brutality.”

“Sen. Markey stands in solidarity with the peaceful protesters in Boston and across the Commonwealth calling for justice and solutions from leaders,” Barry said.

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from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3eOaCNj