Updated at 11:15am Eastern
On March 11, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation heard testimony from an attorney at Covington & Burling, focused on commercial litigation and government contracts, who had been nominated to serve as Inspector General of the FCC.
This individual would replace David Hunt, who was appointed in 2011 and agreed to step down following an OK for Johnson, an Oklahoma native.
That may not be happening, as the Senate has recessed until December 29.
Editor’s Note: Due to an error in reporting conducted during the weekend, RBR+TVBR‘s initial report at RBR.com was factually incorrect. We apologize for any miscommunication on this story.
Chase Johnson, who President Trump nominated for Inspector General at the Federal Communications Commission, is now awaiting a second cloture vote in the U.S. Senate.
This information became known on Monday afternoon, two days after an initial cloture vote — held by the U.S. Senate in a special Saturday session (12/20) — saw the upper body of Congress vote 48-39 to prevent cutting off further debate on whether Johnson should be given the position of IG at the FCC.
It was incorrectly reported by RBR+TVBR during the weekend that a vote denying Johnson of the position had occurred.
However, that remains very possible, with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell scheduling a vote on the nomination late Monday, the Senate Cloakroom confirmed via Twitter.
No vote on Johnson came late Monday. But, when the Senate returns, it could use the same process that led to confirmation of Eric Soskin for the Inspector General role at the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The approval of President Trump’s nominee for the DOT IG role came near the 10pm Eastern hour Monday, and by one vote (48-47).
Whether or not that’s a good sign for Johnson remains unclear.
The Senate Cloakroom had stated Monday that at 5:30pm Eastern, legislators were expected to proceed to up to three votes in relation to the motions to reconsider Executive Nominations that, first and foremost, involved Johnson.
Yet, the vote on Soskin, listed second, was had.
Now, the FCC and D.C. observers must wait seven days for any indication that Johnson will become the Commission’s next Inspector General.
“There is no indication yet from the GOP whether that will happen, and we may not learn until then what the GOP will do,” notes University of Richmond School of Law Chair Carl Tobias.
Why the cloud of uncertainty over Johnson?
“Many Senators seem unhappy with Trump’s actions on Inspector General nominations, especially at the end of his term,” Tobias told RBR+TVBR on Saturday (12/19). “The vote suggests there were a number of GOP no votes.”
Tobias added that controversy surrounding the president’s firing and changing of Inspector Generals at numerous federal agencies led members of the Republican party to join Democrats in voting on Saturday’s cloture vote.
Before joining Covington & Burling, Johnson served on active duty in the United States Marine Corps and deployed to Afghanistan. He clerked for Judge Edith Clement of the Fifth Circuit and Judge Victor Wolski of the Court of Federal Claims.
