Trump budget nominee tells senators 2020 election was 'rigged'

Russell Vought, President Trump’s pick to head the White House budget office, told senators in his confirmation questionnaire that he believes the 2020 presidential election was “rigged.”

Asked by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) in written questions for the record whether former President Biden won the 2020 election, Vought responded, “I believe that the 2020 election was rigged.”

A copy of his written answers was obtained by The Hill.

Vought’s assertion that Biden only won by means of fraud will spark more fireworks over his nomination, which the Senate Budget Committee will consider Thursday.

Many Senate Republicans have rejected Trump’s claims that the 2020 election was stolen, including former Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.).

Speaking on the Senate floor after Trump’s second impeachment trial, McConnell called the stolen election claims “wild falsehoods.”

Senate Democrats have already demanded that Republicans postpone a vote on Vought for two weeks after the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a memo Monday night freezing broad swaths of federal funding.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) said Democrats will join a lawsuit challenging the funding freeze, which a federal judge paused on Tuesday afternoon.

He called Vought the “chief cook and bottle washer” of Project 2025, the ambitious conservative blueprint for reforming the federal government, which Trump distanced himself from during last year’s campaign.

Whitehouse in his questions for the record asked Vought about his leadership of the Center for Renewing America (CRA), a 501(c)3 organization that paid him $540,000 in compensation last year.

The Rhode Island senator pressed Vought on the group’s donors, asking the nominee how OMB’s recusal and conflict of interest policies could be effective if he doesn’t disclose that information.

Vought responded that CRA is not obligated to share its donors and asserted he has fully complied with the Office of Government Ethics and OMB’s ethics attorneys.

The nominee also skirted Whitehouse’s questions about whether he discussed any of the executive orders issued by Trump in the past week with either the president or members of his team.

Vought responded that Trump decided the policies contained in his executive orders and vowed to “faithfully implement the president’s policies.”

Topics

Three Contentious Trump Nominees Will Appear Before the Senate

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Kash Patel and Tulsi Gabbard, three of President Trump’s high-profile picks, on Thursday will make their cases for confirmation.
The New York Times - 6h
Democrats urge delay on Trump budget office nominee in response to funding freeze

Senate Democrats are demanding Republicans postpone a vote scheduled for Thursday on Russell Vought, President Trump’s nominee to head the Office of Management and Budget, after the budget office ...
The Hill - 1d
Senate committees advance Trump’s energy, environment nominees

President Trump's picks to lead the nation’s energy and environment-focused agencies all sailed through committee votes on Thursday morning. The Senate’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee ...
The Hill - Jan. 23
Senate panel advances Trump OMB nominee

Senators advanced the nomination of Russell Vought, who was tapped to be President Trump’s next budget chief, on Monday, as Republicans are ramping up efforts to confirm the president’s nominees. ...
The Hill - Jan. 21
Senators grill Trump's attorney general pick over false 2020 election claims

Pam Bondi, President-elect Donald Trump's pick for attorney general, faced questions on Justice Department independence and the 2020 election at her confirmation hearing. Nikole Killion reports ...
CBS News - Jan. 15
AG nominee Pam Bondi won't say Trump lost 2020 election

Attorney general nominee Pam Bondi dodged a question from Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) on Wednesday about whether President-elect Trump lost the 2020 election. Bondi echoed other Republicans in ...
The Hill - Jan. 15
Five takeaways from report on Trump's alleged 2020 election interference

Trump is accused of inspiring Jan 6 violence but prosecutors thought an incitement charge would be too risky.
BBC News - Jan. 14
Senate to kick off hearings for key Trump nominees

The Senate is kicking off confirmation hearings for President-elect Trump’s cabinet nominees this week, with a slew of his picks — some controversial, others with strong support — set to appear ...
The Hill - Jan. 13
DoJ to release part of report on Trump’s attempt to overturn 2020 election

Justice department intends to release special counsel Jack Smith’s findings from investigation. Attorney general Merrick Garland intends to release the first part of the highly-anticipated special ...
The Guardian - Jan. 8