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Bolton Nomination Delayed as Republican Senator Raises Concerns

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A surprise last-minute defection by Republican Senator George V. Voinovich of Ohio forced the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to postpone a vote on the nomination of John R. Bolton as ambassador to the United Nations. The delay, unanimously agreed upon by the committee, is a significant setback to Mr. Bolton's prospects, providing opponents with time to seek corroboration for the accusations made since he appeared before the committee a week ago.

Key Takeaways:

  • The nomination was delayed due to concerns raised by Senator George V. Voinovich of Ohio, who had initially planned to vote for Mr. Bolton but changed his mind after hearing the case against the nominee.
  • The accusations against Mr. Bolton include claims of intimidating intelligence analysts, and the committee agreed to investigate these claims further.
  • The committee will seek additional information from the State Department and the Central Intelligence Agency about reports of Mr. Bolton's behavior.
  • Two other Republicans on the panel, Senators Chuck Hagel and Lincoln Chafee, expressed concerns about the nomination, with Mr. Hagel stating that the charges were "serious enough that they demand, or cry out, for further examination."
  • Mr. Voinovich's defection caught other senators off guard, as he had not previously expressed any doubts about the nomination.

Statistics:

  • 10 Republicans on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
  • 2 Republicans, in addition to Mr. Voinovich, expressed concerns about the nomination
  • 1 former official, Carl W. Ford Jr., a former assistant secretary of state, has testified against Mr. Bolton
  • 2 other officials, Christian W. Westermann and Fulton T. Armstrong, have had their testimony placed on the public record
  • The committee will investigate the accusations against Mr. Bolton further, seeking additional information from the State Department and the Central Intelligence Agency.

Sources:

"The New York Times", dated April 27, 2005 ( weekday edition)

Doug Mills/The New York Times (pg. A6)

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