Schumer Announces Opposition to Rex Tillerson for Secretary of State

Washington, D.C. –U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today released the following statement in opposition to confirming Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State:

“Just one week into his administration, President Trump is turning our foreign policy into shambles. His nominee for Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, a man who will not lift a finger to fight climate change and will not rule out a Muslim registry would make it even worse.

“Mr. Tillerson’s refusal to back new sanctions on Russia, and his refusal to even pledge to fully defend the current sanctions regime is unacceptable but not surprising given his closeness to Vladimir Putin and the depth of Exxon’s investment in Russia. During his hearing, he presented more ‘alternative facts’ to try to deny that Exxon mobile had lobbied against sanctions being placed on our most serious adversaries. He refused to come clean on Exxon’s role with subsidiary companies designed to evade U.S. sanctions regimes, and has refused to recuse himself from any issue that could affect Exxon’s bottom line during his tenure as Secretary of State. These are not the values that should define American foreign policy.

“When I met with Mr. Tillerson, I came away more concerned about his and the President’s plans and unimpressed with his grasp on foreign policy. I will oppose his nomination, and I encourage the full Senate to do the same.”