Pompeo set to win Senate committee's vote to be top U.S. diplomat
WASHINGTON, April 23 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Monday was expected to approve the nomination of President Donald Trump's choice for secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, after a Republican senator who had been opposed threw his support behind the nominee.
Senator Rand Paul's decision to vote for Pompeo's nomination in the committee appeared to put it on course for approval on a party-line vote of 11-10.
While the full Senate was expected to approve the nomination even if the committee did not offer its backing, Paul's switch means the nominee can avoid the embarrassment of being the first person nominated for the post known to fail to secure the panel's endorsement.
"I have decided to support his nomination to be our next Secretary of State," Paul said on Twitter.
Having received assurances from President Trump and Director Pompeo that he agrees with the President on these important issues, I have decided to support his nomination to be our next Secretary of State.
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) April 23, 2018
Paul has been known to threaten opposition on major policy positions staked out by Trump, including healthcare reform, only to change his mind at the last minute. Trump recently expressed confidence that the senator from Kentucky would come around to support Pompeo.
(Additional reporting by Makini Brice; Editing by Peter Cooney)
