[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 154 (Tuesday, September 24, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S5638]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                   Nomination of Daniel Habib Jorjani

  Madam President, finally, on the Jorjani nomination, later today, the 
Senate will vote on the confirmation of Daniel Jorjani to serve as 
Solicitor of the Department of the Interior. By all rights, Leader 
McConnell should withdraw this vote from the floor. Mr. Jorjani's 
career is out of step with the agency's mission, and it has come to 
light that Mr. Jorjani likely lied to Congress about his role in the 
Department's adherence to transparency laws.
  Under President Trump, the Interior Department has been mired in 
several investigations about the ethical conduct of its political 
appointees, including former Secretary Zinke. It is obvious that the 
Interior Department sorely needs transparency and public 
accountability, especially when the stewardship of our public lands is 
at stake. But at the Department of the Interior, political appointees 
have instituted policies to stonewall and squash transparency. It is 
likely that Mr. Jorjani played a key role in shaping these policies and 
is at this moment one of the subjects of an Interior Department 
inspector general investigation.
  Despite his sworn testimony claiming no role in reviewing public 
records requests, public documentation has shown that Mr. Jorjani was 
regularly made aware of FOIA requests involving high-level political 
appointees. If confirmed, Mr. Jorjani would play an even larger role in 
overseeing the Interior Department's public releases.
  The President said he would clean the swamp. Nomination after 
nomination that he makes, makes the swamp even filthier, stinkier. He 
seems to have no morality. He seems to have no honor. This is a man who 
is loaded with conflicts of interest, ethical concerns, and is likely 
an ideologue opposed to the very missions of the agency to which he is 
nominated. Mr. Jorjani is another bright red example of the lack of 
honor, of decency, of morality, and of honesty in Trump appointees. I 
urge Senate Republicans to join Democrats in voting to reject this 
sordid nomination.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Illinois.