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Rex Tillerson has been confirmed by the United States Senate as President Donald Trump's secretary of state on Wednesday. The Senate had concerns about the former Exxon Mobil Corp chief executive officer's ties to Russia.
The vote, mostly along party lines, was by far the closest in at least half a century, as Fifty-six (56) senators backed Tillerson, and 43 voted no.
Tillerson's predecessor in the position, John Kerry, was confirmed by 94 to 3. Condoleezza Rice, the last secretary of state nominated by a Republican, was confirmed by 85-13.
Tillerson, 64, retired as chairman and chief executive of Exxon Mobil at the end of 2016 after a four-decade career at the company.
The concerns over Tillerson's ties to Russia is after the executive spent years there working for the oil company. Some faulted him for failing to promise to recuse himself from matters related to Exxon Mobil businesses for his entire term as secretary of state rather than only the one year required by law.
The vote, mostly along party lines, was by far the closest in at least half a century, as Fifty-six (56) senators backed Tillerson, and 43 voted no.
Tillerson's predecessor in the position, John Kerry, was confirmed by 94 to 3. Condoleezza Rice, the last secretary of state nominated by a Republican, was confirmed by 85-13.
Tillerson, 64, retired as chairman and chief executive of Exxon Mobil at the end of 2016 after a four-decade career at the company.
The concerns over Tillerson's ties to Russia is after the executive spent years there working for the oil company. Some faulted him for failing to promise to recuse himself from matters related to Exxon Mobil businesses for his entire term as secretary of state rather than only the one year required by law.
