Citing change in Honduras policy, DeMint ends holds on nominees

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Thursday, November 5, 2009
Citing change in Honduras policy, DeMint ends holds on nominees

By Lesley Clark | McClatchy Newspapers
WASHINGTON — An outspoken critic of the Obama administration's handling of the crisis in Honduras late Thursday dropped his opposition to two State Department nominees, saying that the administration has reversed course.

South Carolina Republican Sen. Jim DeMint said on the Senate floor that he'd spoken with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who told him that the administration would recognize the election Nov. 29 in Honduras, "regardless of whether former President Manuel Zelaya is returned to office."

"I am happy to report the Obama administration has finally reversed its misguided Honduran policy and will fully recognize the Nov. 29 elections," DeMint said, noting that the stance means he'll lift his objection to the nominations of Arturo Valenzuela to be assistant secretary for Western Hemisphere affairs and Thomas Shannon to be the U.S. ambassador to Brazil.

At Valenzuela's confirmation hearing July 8, DeMint argued that the administration had made the wrong call by pushing for ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya's return to power.

DeMint said Thursday, however, that he'd spoken with Clinton and Shannon, who'd told him that the U.S. would recognize the outcome of the Honduran elections regardless of whether Zelaya is reinstated.

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