The Senate has just voted to confirm Mark Esper as the new Defense Secretary by an overwhelming vote:
From CBS' @alanhe on Cap Hill: by 90-8 vote, Senate overwhelmingly confirms Mark Esper as Secretary of Defense. Will be first permanent Secretary since James Mattis stepped down at the end of 2018.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) July 23, 2019
I didn’t think we’d ever see such a high number like that confirming a Trump nominee, but there it is.
According to the White House, Esper will be sworn in this afternoon. It will end a 7 month drought since Mattis resigned in December.
In case you are wondering who voted against Esper, it was mostly Democrats who are running for president and can’t be seen supporting Trump in any way:
#Breaking: Mark Esper confirmed Defense Secretary–90-8.
The 8 NO VOTES were from Democrats: Sens. Kamala Harris (D-CA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Ed Markey (D-MA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).— Mike Emanuel 🇺🇸 (@MikeEmanuelFox) July 23, 2019