Video: In Senate Hearing, Kaine Presses Pompeo On Trump Threat To Delay Election, Pompeo Refuses To Answer

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WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, following President Trump’s threat to delay the election, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing pressed Secretary Pompeo on the issue, asking, "Can a president delay a presidential election?" Pompeo refused to answer and deferred the question to the DOJ, saying: “In the end, the Department of Justice and others will make that legal determination.”

Kaine responded saying, "A president cannot delay an election. The date of the election is established by Congress. It was established in 1845. There is no ability for a president to delay an election. I don't think it's that hard a question or one that should lead to any equivocation by somebody who's fourth in line of succession to be President of the United States."

Senator Kaine also pressed Pompeo on whether he questioned the President about his threats to former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch, and if she was a talented public servant and a valuable part of the State Department. Pompeo refused to answer, saying he didn’t speak on personnel matters. Kaine later responded, “I’m trying to determine whether you’ve been steadfast or not since I have so many State Department employees that live in the Commonwealth of Virginia who are very very concerned about whether or not a Secretary of State might have the back of a career professional who is a valued person.” Kaine later said, “When somebody works for their entire career for the State Department and they are slandered with lies and sacked for no good reason, that sends a message that could not be clearer to other State Department officials.” 

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