Now that former Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is on the west coast fulfilling her new duties as the president of the University of California, President Obama has nominated major campaign donor Jeh Johnson to take her place.
Federal campaign finance records show that over the past decade, Johnson has contributed more than $100,000 to Democratic candidates and groups.Like most of Obama's nominees, Johnson comes with controversy. In a statement Friday morning, Texas Senator John Cornyn slammed Johnson as someone who has little experience when it comes to border security and framed the nomination as a payback for fundraising to get Obama elected.
During the 2008 presidential campaign, Johnson donated more than $33,000 to Obama's campaign, federal records show. Obama's campaign website listed Johnson as a member of the then-candidate's national finance committee and an adviser to Obama's foreign policy team during the 2008 election.
◼ Obama said Johnson had “demonstrated again and again ... a deep understanding of the threats facing the United States,” during the Rose Garden event, where he made the announcement. - Washington Examiner
...Johnson can expect to face tough questions at his confirmation hearings over his role approving the use of drone strikes to target individuals abroad, including American citizens.
An administration official on Thursday, announcing Obama’s decision to tap Johnson, said that the former Pentagon lawyer was “responsible for the prior legal review and approval of every military operation approved by the President and Secretary of Defense.”
The administration official called Johnson “one the most highly qualified and respected national security leaders,” adding that he was “known for his sound judgment and counsel.”...
Republicans, though, said the nomination should bring scrutiny to problems at the department.
Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., in a statement Thursday said that Johnson's nomination "should focus the attention of the Congress and the country on the open refusal of DHS political appointees to impartially execute their law enforcement mission."
Sessions said that under Napolitano, violent criminals were released from custody and immigration officers were "blocked from doing their jobs."
