DENVER—The U.S. Senate today confirmed Daniel Jorjani as the Interior Department Solicitor by a vote of 51-43. Jorjani is currently under investigation by Interior Department’s Inspector General, and Senator Ron Wyden has requested the Department of Justice investigate whether Jorjani committed perjury during his confirmation hearing, and placed a hold on his nomination.
The Center for Western Priorities released the following statement from Deputy Director Aaron Weiss:
“Today’s vote is an embarrassment for the Senate. Daniel Jorjani’s confirmation sends a clear message that nominees are free to mislead and lie to senators and still get the job. Jorjani is the architect of Interior’s policy that allows for political interference with the Freedom of Information Act. Under oath, he lied about his role undermining America’s most important transparency law. That should have instantly cost him his job as Principal Deputy Solicitor. Instead, 51 United States senators just gave him a promotion.”