Senate confirms Garcetti as ambassador to India

Author: Editors Desk Source: N.Y Times

March 15, 2023 at 15:15

Eric Garcetti, the former mayor of Los Angeles, has faced a turbulent nomination to serve as ambassador to India.Credit...Gustavo Garello/Getty Images

The Senate confirmed former L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti as President Biden’s ambassador to India, ending a nearly two-year fight.

WASHINGTON — The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Eric Garcetti, the former mayor of Los Angeles, to be the U.S. ambassador to India, ending a two-year saga that left a top diplomatic post vacant amid allegations that he mishandled workplace misconduct and sexual harassment.

Mr. Garcetti was confirmed by a vote of 52 to 42, with a few Democratic senators who had expressed deep reservations voting “no” but several more Republicans voting in favor of moving forward, effectively saving Mr. Garcetti’s bid from collapse.

It was a victory for President Biden, who stuck by his political ally in the face of the allegations and the prolonged process that has left the United States without a permanent envoy in one of the world’s most populous and geopolitically important democracies.

“The United States-India relationship is extremely important,” Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the majority leader, said after a test vote earlier on Wednesday, noting that it was “incredibly important” to confirm the ambassador position but offering no specific praise for Mr. Garcetti.

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