'Awkward' Hearing Will Vet DOI Lawyer And Official Slated To Probe Him

"A Senate panel will hold a confirmation hearing Thursday for two top posts at the Department of Interior: the agency's top lawyer and the inspector general who is likely to investigate him amid the legal and ethical issues facing Secretary David Bernhardt.

Both nominees — Daniel Jorjani, already the Trump administration’s the top lawyer for the department, and Mark Lee Greenblatt, who works in the Commerce Department's inspector general's office — are scheduled to appear before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, where they will be seated next to each other at the witness table for questioning from lawmakers.

“It’ll be as interesting or as awkward as the senators choose to make it,” said Aaron Weiss, deputy director at The Center for Western Priorities, a public lands advocacy group. "Daniel Jorjani has been at David Bernhardt’s side the entire time. So all the investigations into Bernhardt touch Jorjani some way."

“Part of the irony is that Jorjani will be up there testifying sitting next to the guy whose job it will be to investigate Jorjani,” he added."

Rebecca Beitsch reports for The Hill May 1, 2019.

Source: The Hill, 05/02/2019