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Donald Trump's pick for Treasury Secretary, former Goldman Sachs partner Steve Mnuchin, is up for confirmation by the US Senate Finance Committee this morning.
Sen. Ron Wyden, the committee's ranking member, is leading the Democrats' questioning—and the Republican response to his comments shows just how fraught the confirmation of Trump's nominees has become here on Capitol Hill.
The committee is narrowly split, with 13 Republicans and 12 Democrats, so Mnuchin's confirmation is not guaranteed.
Wyden's opening remarks, pasted below, detailed Mnuchin's deep entanglements in the financial and foreclosure crises, and in corporate offshore tax evasion.
Committee Chairman Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kansas) was having none of the uppity Oregon sexagenarian's critical tone.
"Sen. Wyden," Roberts said, "I've got Valium pill here that you might want to take
before the second round."
Wyden didn't miss a beat. "I've got another suggestion: We've got a lot of colleagues waiting. If you could be brief, that would be helpful," he said.
Gasps and murmurs echoed through the chamber. A gavel pounded. Order!
"Mr. Chairman, I hope this comment about Valium doesn't set the tone" for the hearing, Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat, chimed in, trying to calm things down.
Roberts replied that he was merely trying to provide "a small pinprick of humor" in a contentious hearing but, judging by the gasps and murmurs in the hearing room, most observers took his comment as it was no doubt intended—as an insult.
When Wyden spoke up again, Roberts snapped: "Fine, Ron—I'm done!" he said.
The hearing is expected to drag on through the day and, as every, can be streamed on C-SPAN.
Correction: This post originally credited the Valium remark to Sen. Orrin Hatch. WW regrets the error.