In a win for Republicans, The Hill reported that President Joe Biden’s nominee to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) no longer wants the position.
According to the website, Gigi Sohn asked Biden to withdraw her nomination this week following a two-year-long confirmation battle.
Sohn complains of “unrelenting, dishonest and cruel attacks”
The Hill noted how Sohn’s chances of being confirmed went down further on Tuesday after moderate West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin announced that he would not support Sohn’s nomination.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre praised Sohn during a press briefing, saying, “We appreciate Gigi Sohn’s candidacy for this important role.”
“She would have brought tremendous talent, intellect and experience, which is why the president nominated her in the first place,” Jean-Pierre stressed.
However, Fox News reported that the decision to withdraw Sohn’s nomination was welcomed by Republican senators.
They included Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who at one point noted during Sohn’s confirmation hearing that she “was making multiple financial donations to Senators who are charged with voting on her confirmation.”
FLASHBACK:
Sen. Ted Cruz: “While her nom was pending, Ms. Sohn was making multiple financial donations to Senators who are charged with voting on her confirmation. Had this been done by a [GOP] nominee, I have no doubt that my Democrat colleagues & their pic.twitter.com/NXZtrfTwrA… https://t.co/RYW64zCgq9
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) March 7, 2023
Cruz: “The FCC is not a place for partisan activists”
“The withdrawal of Ms. Sohn’s nomination is a major victory and represents a strong bipartisan agreement that we need a fair and impartial candidate who can receive the support needed for confirmation,” Fox News quoted Cruz as saying in a statement.
“The FCC is not a place for partisan activists; free speech is too important,” the Republican lawmaker went on to insist.
“Now, it’s time for the Biden administration to put forth a nominee who can be confirmed by the full Senate and is committed to serving as an even-handed and truly independent regulator,” he concluded.