The US Senate on Wednesday confirmed former Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti as Washington’s next Ambassador to India, paving the way to fill a key diplomatic post that has remained vacant for over two years.
US senators voted 52 to 42 to confirm Garcetti’s nomination.
What is Known About Eric Garcetti?
Garcetti was tapped to become the American envoy to New Delhi in 2021 after Biden took the oath of office.
A close ally of President Joe Biden, Garcetti’s confirmation to the top diplomatic posting in New Delhi had been held up amid concerns in the US Congress about sexual misconduct allegations against one of his top aides.
His nomination also didn’t make it to the Senate in the previous US Congress as Democrats didn’t have a majority. He was re-nominated for the position by Biden in January this year.
Despite securing the nomination, concerns still linger over allegations against Garcetti’s aide.
During Wednesday’s vote in the Senate, three Democrats voted against Garcetti. However, the Biden nominee managed to secure the nomination with the backing of seven Republicans who voted for him.
Senator Mazie Hirono, a Democrat from Hawaii, said she opposed Garcetti’s nomination based on “credible” information she has received. Until last week, Hirono supported Garcetti’s nomination, having argued that she would give the former mayor the “benefit of the doubt.”
Following the successful Senate vote, Garcetti said that he was “thrilled with today’s outcome”.