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SALT LAKE CITY — Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. is a "slam dunk" for confirmation to the post of U.S. ambassador to Russia, according to Utah Sen. Mike Lee.
Huntsman will appear before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Tuesday morning for a confirmation hearing.
Nomination hearing ends (only lasted about an hour) and @JonHuntsman leaves committee room with his family. @KSL5TV@KSLcom@kslnewsradiopic.twitter.com/bPxJPeX18e
— Ladd Egan (@laddegan) September 19, 2017
On relationship between U.S. and Russia: “Right now we are at a low point." @JonHuntsman said it "Reminds me of 1986." @KSL5TV@KSLcompic.twitter.com/3o1dJA9HsU
— Ladd Egan (@laddegan) September 19, 2017
"No question" that Russia interfered with election, says @JonHuntsman "I'm under no illusion” that the ambassadorship will be easy. @KSL5TV
— Ladd Egan (@laddegan) September 19, 2017
"Their love and support has absolutely sustained me," @JonHuntsman about his family during opening statements to committee. @KSL5TV@KSLcompic.twitter.com/i6cLReYLUp
— Ladd Egan (@laddegan) September 19, 2017
“Russia is a challenge to us" says @Sen_JoeManchin during nomination hearing introductions for @JonHuntsman to be Russian ambassador @KSL5TVpic.twitter.com/R8TnOhy2wp
— Ladd Egan (@laddegan) September 19, 2017
"You will be pleased with the service this man will perform" says @SenMikeLee as he introduces @JonHuntsman to US Senate committee @KSL5TVpic.twitter.com/4cxEjBGcTN
— Ladd Egan (@laddegan) September 19, 2017
NOW: @JonHuntsman and his family arrive at Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing to consider his ambassadorship nomination @KSL5TVpic.twitter.com/fbCXmmpc4t
— Ladd Egan (@laddegan) September 19, 2017
Confirmation hearing starts soon for Jon Huntsman to be ambassador to Russia. Utah's @SenMikeLee will introduce @JonHuntsman@KSL5TV@KSLcompic.twitter.com/Sc7mvIBBwB
— Ladd Egan (@laddegan) September 19, 2017
On Monday, Lee told KSL Huntsman is a "slam dunk" and that the only thing to hold up the confirmation would be "politics."
"He's going to be confirmed. It's a matter of when not if," the senator said.
Lee, who worked for Huntsman while he was serving as governor, will introduce his former boss to the Senate committee as the perfect man for the prominent ambassadorship.
"First of all, the man's a genius. He's really, really smart; very capable," Lee said. "He's a master of interpersonal relations. He reads people very, very well. He knows his audience and can learn his audience much more quickly than anyone I've ever worked with."
NBC political director Chuck Todd told KSL this weekend he would also be shocked if Huntsman is not confirmed.
"He's a diplomat's diplomat, you know?" Todd said. "Here's somebody that is now going to have been the ambassador to China, and now ambassador to Russia. Not many people have done that. It gives him unique perspective."
But both Lee and Todd agreed the questioning in Tuesday's hearing will probably focus more on President Donald Trump and his alleged ties to Russia than on Huntsman's qualifications for the job.
"This confirmation hearing's going to be 90 percent about the president's relationship, and this administration's relationship with Russia — and maybe 10 percent about Jon Huntsman," Todd said.
"Anytime Democrats in the Senate have an opportunity to take digs at President Trump, they generally do," Lee said.
The hearing is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. MDT. After that, there needs to be two confirmation votes: first by the Foreign Relations Committee, and then by the full Senate.
Huntsman's nomination was first discussed in March. Trump formally nominated Huntsman to serve as ambassador to Russia in July.
Huntsman served as ambassador to China under the Obama administration and ambassador to Singapore under President George H.W. Bush.
Contributing: Ladd Egan, Linda Williams
