Cruz is blocking the vote on Biden Commerce’s nominee secretary over concerns from Huawei

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Her. Ted CruzRafael (Ted) Edward Cruz Cruz blocks vote on Biden Commerce Secretary-candidate over Huawei’s concerns that Senate Republicans don’t want Trump to testify in impeachment trial Cruz, ‘Princess Bride’ star who is in duel is about politics and entertainment MORE (R-Texas) formally held a break in the Senate on Thursday to vote on the nomination of Gina RaimondoGina RaimondoCruz Blocks Vote On Nominee Biden Commerce Secretary Over Huawei Democrat Warns Tech Firms To “ Act Large Scale ” Or Risk Section 230 Changes On The Money: Biden Commits To 400 Checks But Open To Eligible Limits | House approves budget resolution for COVID-19 package | McConnell tries to inflict political pain on the budget votes MORE, President Biden’s choice as Secretary of Commerce, due to concerns, Raimondo has not clarified her position on Chinese telecom giant Huawei.

“I will stand guard when the Biden administrator commits to keeping massive Chinese Communist Party espionage operation Huawei on the entity list,” Cruz tweeted in response to a Bloomberg Business report that he had blocked a vote on Raimondo.

Cruz’s blockade comes after more than a week of criticism from both House and Senate Republicans over Raimondo’s comments about Huawei at her confirmation hearing.

The Commerce Department under the Trump administration has added Huawei, one of the largest 5G equipment manufacturers in the world, to its “entity list,” effectively blacklisting the company over concerns that it posed a spy threat due to ties with the Chinese government.

Raimondo made it clear that if confirmed, she would “review policy, consult with you, consult the industry, consult our allies and assess what’s best for US national and economic security,” but pledged not to specifically keep Huawei on the entity list when Cruz asked her about this during confirmation hearing.

She later made it clear written responses to questions from members of the Senate Commerce Committee that she “had no reason to believe that entities on those lists should not be there”.

Cruz voted against Raimondo’s approval during the committee’s vote on Wednesday, with Raimondo emerging from the committee by a vote of 21-3.

“Gina Raimondo’s ethical issues and soft attitude towards China, including her refusal to keep Huawei on the entity list, are deeply troubling,” tweeted Wednesday after the vote in committee. “That is why I voted against promoting her nomination and I urge my colleagues to refuse to confirm her.”

The hold on Raimondo’s nomination comes after Cotton and Sens. Ben SasseBen Sasse GOP Senator Warns His Sides Must Choose Between ‘Conservatism and Madness’ Cruz Blocks Vote On Biden Commerce Secretary Candidate Over Huawei Concerns House Republicans Urge Senate To Block Trade Secretary Vote On Huawei MORE (R-Neb.) And Marco RubioMarco Antonio RubioCruz Blocks Vote On Nominee Biden Commerce Secretary Over Huawei Demings Concerns About Possible Senate, Florida Governor: ‘I’ll Keep That Door Open’ Republicans Try To Take Offense In Vote-a-rama MORE (R-Fla.) Wrote a letter to Raimondo asking her to clarify her stance on keeping Huawei on the entity list.

A coalition of nearly two dozen House Republicans, led by a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Michael McCaulMichael Thomas McCaulCruz Blocks Vote Over Nominee Biden Commerce Secretary Over Huawei Concerns Lawmakers Consider Domestic Terrorism Statute Following Jan. 6 Attack House Republicans Prepare For Conference Meeting Amid Party Civil War MORE (R-Texas), also pressured senators to block a vote on Raimondo’s nomination until she made her position on Huawei clear.

McCaul celebrated Cruz’s decision to block a vote on Raimondo on Thursday evening.

“As I have said repeatedly, #Huawei is not a normal telecommunications company – it is a branch of the #CCP‘s military that poses a significant threat to US national security and supports the CCP’s genocide in Xinjiang,’ McCaul said in a statement. tweeted by the commission. “The Biden administration must take this seriously.”

Republicans have also objected to the White House’s unclear stance on Huawei’s place on the entity list.

Reporters have questioned the White House press secretary Jen PsakiJen PsakiJudge Blocks Texas Effort To Remove Planned Parenthood From Medicaid Cruz Blocks Vote On Biden Commerce Secretary Nominee Over Concerns Huawei On The Money: White House Assesses Biden Can Cancel Student Loan Debt | Senate signals broad support for more targeted emergency controls | Romney suggests MORE monthly payments for families with children about Huawei twice since Biden took office, and while she stressed at press conferences that “telecommunications equipment made by untrusted suppliers, including Huawei, is a threat to the security of the US and our allies,” Psaki has not confirmed whether Huawei will the list remains.

The Trump administration put enormous pressure on Huawei, with Trump signing into law Last year, legislation banned the use of federal funds to purchase Huawei equipment, and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted unanimously to classify the company as a threat to national security.

Huawei has denied allegations that it poses a threat, and it currently is challenging the FCC designation in court.

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