Why it matters: The comments from the Senate Majority Leader’s office, made Wednesday through his legislature during a conversation with other LDs, mean that the Los Angeles mayor is unlikely to receive a vote soon. Garcetti was officially nominated eight months ago.
The comments also point to growing concern – and confusion – in the Democratic Party about the fate of President Biden’s candidate to serve as ambassador to a critical country that resists the government’s efforts to become tougher on Russia. The cold math of a 50-50 Senate could force Biden to withdraw Garcetti’s candidacy and find another candidate who could sit as his envoy to the world’s largest democracy. The delay has also created uncertainty in leadership for the country’s second largest city and its 4 million inhabitants.
News guidance: Schumer’s team was asked about the timing of a possible Garcetti vote during a weekly call designed to provide an overview of big picture issues in the Senate.
The official’s comments were based on public statements by some Democratic senators – some of whom said they wanted more information on allegations of sexual harassment in the workplace before supporting Garcetti. At the moment, Sumer’s office is not officially flogging the vote – it is asking senators how they intend to vote.
The comments came before Axios reported on Thursday that Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) Had “concerns” about the allegations.
That raised the number of faltering Democratic senators to five. A Schumer spokesman declined to comment to Axios about the contents of the call.
The big picture: Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) has been “waiting” for Garcetti’s candidacy, pending his own independent inquiry into the allegations. Senator Joni Ernest (R-Iowa) has put a second wait for candidacy.
Grassley told the Los Angeles Times he did not expect his investigation to end when the Senate returned from the Easter holiday on April 25, giving an outside group, Whistleblower Aid, more time to meet with senators from both sides. At the heart of the allegations comes a lawsuit filed by Los Angeles Police Officer Matthew Garza, who claimed that Rick Jacobs, while he was the deputy chief of staff of the mayor, sexually harassed him. Jacobs denied the allegations and Garcetti denied knowing them.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee examined the allegations and concluded that Garcetti was sincere in his legal testimony in which he denied any knowledge.
Garcetti’s candidacy was voted out of committee in January without Republican opposition. On March 25, a State Department official briefed Senate officials, explaining that allegations had been made by the department and the commission, and that Garcetti was unaware of the alleged conduct.
Between the lines: A former Garcetti communications director, Naomi Seligman, continues to arrange meetings with Democrat bureaucrats, claiming she was also harassed by Jacobs.
Meanwhile, a different aide to Garcetti wrote to senators last Monday challenging Seligman’s account, Politico reported.
Editor’s note: This title has been updated to reflect doubts about Eric Garcetti’s chances of confirmation.
