United States President Donald Trump’s nominee for the post of ambassador to Kenya faced sharply critical questioning on Tuesday from some members of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Kyle McCarter, who is a Republican politician in the Midwestern state of Illinois, was challenged on his opposition to gay-rights legislation and to the refugee-admission policies of the Obama administration.
But the session’s most dramatic moment came when Mr McCarter was rebuked by Senator Tim Kaine, the vice-presidential nominee on the 2016 Democratic Party ticket headed by Hillary Clinton.
While taking it to Twitter Senator Kaine said he was “completely perplexed” by a McCarter posting on Twitter on the night of Mr Trump’s election victory. “Hillary for Prison. No, really.”
He also noted that he had spent time in countries where opponents of a ruling party are imprisoned for their political views.
Such repression is antithetical to the principles of US democracy, the Virginia Democrat told Mr McCarter.
Senator Kaine asked further asked,,“Do you honestly believe Hillary Clinton should be in prison?”
“I am not one to say anyone should be accused unjustly,” Mr McCarter replied.
“There is hype in an election that was perhaps not called for.”
Unsatisfied, Senator Kaine said in return, “These are not helpful comments from someone being asked to represent the United States abroad.”
The senator pressed Mr McCarter on the Twitter remark, asking if he “had cause to think about that and repent of it.”
“It was perhaps not the wisest of tweets,” Mr McCarter acknowledged.
Senator Kaine again confronted Mr McCarter on this point.
“How does a thought like that come into the brain of someone?” he asked.
“It seems so contrary to the values of a democratic society.”
Mr McCarter responded: “It is one of those tweets you’d like to reel in but can’t.”
Three other Democratic senators on the panel considering Mr McCarter’s nomination also suggested that aspects of his record may not suit him for an ambassadorial posting.
Senator Chris Murphy took issue with tweets Mr McCarter had posted attacking President Obama’s welcoming approach toward refugees.
If confirmed by the full Senate, Mr McCarter “would be going to a country that hosts 500,000 refugees,” Senator Murphy noted.
And it is US policy to encourage Kenya to take in refugees from Somalia and other troubled African countries, the senator from the state of Connecticut added.
It may be incongruous for a US ambassador to Kenya to have a record of calling for tighter restrictions on refugee admissions, Senator Murphy suggested.
“The only concern I have is the proper vetting” of refugees, Mr McCarter said in response.
“I am as welcoming as anyone if proper vetting is carried out.”
Senator Jeanne Shaheen raised concerns about Mr McCarter’s opposition as a state legislator to same-sex marriage and to proposals allowing same-sex couples to adopt children.
President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to nominate Illinois Senator Kyle McCarter as US ambassador to Kenya, citing legislator’s long history of charity ties with the East African country.
According to a White House news release, Mr McCarter would be “ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the United States of American to the Republic of Kenya.”
White House noted that McCarter “served as a field auditor, missionary and international director of Each One Feed One International, based in Lebanon, Illinois, with an office in Mukothima, (Tharaka-Nithi County)”.
The charity has worked with a K-8 elementary school, helped hundreds of abandoned, abused and orphaned children, and provided a medical clinic that serves about 15,000 people a year.
The congressman took to his Twitter to welcome his nomination, saying he is ready to go back to a country he has lived and served.