The latest on Biden’s transition

Retired Army Gen. Lloyd Austin, President-elect Joe Biden’s pick to serve as the secretary of defense, said he believes in civilian leadership of the Defense Department and that, if confirmed, his priority will be American troops and their families.

Austin retired from the military four years ago, but the law states that an officer must have left the service seven years before becoming secretary of defense. Biden is asking for the Senate to grant a waiver because of this.

Austin said he recognizes that “being a member of the President’s cabinet requires a different perspective and unique responsibilities from a career in uniform. I intend to keep this at the forefront of my mind.”

Austin also talked about his experience tackling tough issues and handling high-pressure situations. He emphasized the importance of diplomacy, saying that America is the strongest when it works with its allies.

“Over the years, I have worked hand in hand with our diplomatic colleagues and partners around the globe, and witnessed firsthand what we’re able to accomplish together,” he said.

Watch the moment here:

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Retired Gen. Lloyd Austin speaks at a news conference after being nominated as secretary of defense.

President-elect Joe Biden praised the personal experience and diversity that retired Army Gen. Lloyd Austin would bring to the Pentagon as its top leader.

If confirmed, Austin would make history as the first Black secretary of defense.

“We need his personal experience helping inform our efforts to ensure that our armed forces reflect the full strength and diversity of our nation,” the President-elect said.

Austin joins a list of other Cabinet nominees that are set to make history if confirmed, including Xavier Becerra, who would be the first Latino to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, and Janet Yellen, who would be the first woman to serve as Treasury secretary.

Watch the moment below:

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While introducing his pick to lead the Defense Department, President-elect Joe Biden pointed out that retired Army Gen. Lloyd Austin retired from the military more than four years ago but Biden acknowledged “the law states that an officer must have left the service seven years before becoming Secretary of Defense.” 

Biden continued: “There’s a good reason for this law that I fully understand and respect. I would not be asking for this exception if I did not believe this moment in our history didn’t call for it.”

“It does call for it,” Biden added. “And if I didn’t have the faith I have in Lloyd Austin to ask for it. I believe in the importance of civilian control of the military. So does the secretary-designee Austin.” 

Biden called for Austin to be “confirmed swiftly” due to the “urgent threat and challenges of our nation’s forces.”

“We need his experience in large-scale logistical operations to help support the swift and equitable distribution of Covid-19 vaccines,” Biden added.

More context: Austin’s selection has set off a new debate over civilian control of the military. Austin would require the same waiver that Congress gave President Trump’s nominee, retired Marine officer Jim Mattis, four years ago — leading some Democrats to say they were hesitant to approve such a waiver once and don’t want to do so again.

Watch the moment below:

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President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris are formally introducing retired Army Gen. Lloyd Austin as their secretary of defense nominee at an in-person event happening now in Wilmington, Delaware. 

The former commander of the US Central Command would make history as the first Black person to lead the Pentagon if confirmed by the US Senate.

“Someone with whom I have worked closely for many years. And I’ve seen perform to the highest standards under intense pressure. Someone who I hold in the highest personal regard as a man of great decency and a man of dignity. In my judgment there is no question that he is the right person for this job, at the right moment, leading the Department of Defense at this moment in our nation’s history,” the President-elect continued.

More on the nominee: Austin has worked closely with Biden in the past. While Biden was vice president, Austin served as the vice chief of staff of the Army and commanding general of US forces in Iraq, and later the commander of CENTCOM. Biden and Austin had discussions on a range of issues, including those in the Middle East and Central and South Asia.

The selection has set off a new debate over civilian control of the military. Austin, who retired four years ago, would require the same waiver that Congress gave President Trump’s nominee, retired Marine officer Jim Mattis, four years ago — leading some Democrats to say they were hesitant to approve such a waiver once and don’t want to do so again.

Here is a look at who Biden has nominated for his Cabinet so far: 

Watch the announcement below:

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President-elect Joe Biden is set to formally introduce retired Army Gen. Lloyd Austin as his nominee to lead the Pentagon at an in-person event starting soon in Wilmington, Delaware.

If confirmed, Austin would make history as the first Black secretary of defense.

With today’s event, Biden will begin trying to gain the support of congressional Democrats who are balking at the prospect of waiving the requirement that the position be filled by someone who has been out of active-duty military service for at least seven years.

Several Senate Democrats this week said they would oppose a waiver for Austin. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, said granting one “would contravene the basic principle that there should be civilian control over a nonpolitical military.”

Biden’s transition team is already lobbying Congress: It has reached out to more than 100 House and Senate offices about Austin’s nomination and a waiver, a transition official said.

Sen. Ron Johnson speaks during a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing in April 2019.

Republican Sen. Ron Johnson would not rule out being a senator who challenges the election results on Jan. 6 when Congress meets in a joint session to accept the votes of the Electoral College.

Under the rules, any member of Congress can join with a senator to raise objection to a state’s Electoral College results. Doing so would spark debate and votes. The expectation isn’t that anyone could overturn the results of the election, but it would be a political spectacle. 

Johnson said he will hold a hearing as chair of the Senate Homeland Security committee to understand more before he makes a decision.

“I would say it depends what we find out,” Johnson said, when asked whether he would not be a senator who tries to challenge the results on the Senate floor.

“I need more information, the American people need more information. I’m not ready to just close, slam the book on this thing,” he added. “At minimum we have to explore these issues, these irregularities, even if it doesn’t have an impact on this year’s election so that we can correct them and initiate controls, so we don’t have these same issues, same irregularities, same suspicions in the next election.”

The Wisconsin Republican said that he has not talked to President Trump about playing that role. 

Johnson said he met Tuesday with a group of House members, including Rep. Jim Jordan, to talk about the outcome of the election and election security. As a result of those talks, Johnson is planning to hold a hearing on the topic.

He said in a statement about that hearing:

Sen. Lamar Alexander is seen during a hearing on June 30.

Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander, who is retiring at year’s end, told CNN that President Trump should congratulate Joe Biden and “put the country first” after electors vote on Monday to make Biden’s win official.

Asked if Trump should concede after Monday, he said, “I think the votes are being counted, and states are certifying them and resolving disputes. And it’s apparent when electors meet on Monday, Joe Biden is very likely to be the President-elect. And if he is, I hope the President will put the country first, congratulate Joe Biden and take pride in his considerable accomplishments, and help him off to a good start.” 

Asked what would happen if he didn’t concede, Alexander said with a laugh, “I think I gave you a good answer.”

Rep. Mike Johnson is seen at the U.S. Capitol on January 30.

Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana, a close ally to President Trump, sent an email from a personal email account to every House Republican soliciting signatures for an amicus brief in the Texas lawsuit seeking to invalidate electoral college votes from Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. 

The email said Trump is “anxiously awaiting the final list” to see who signs on to the amicus brief.

The amicus brief is related to an application from Texas to the Supreme Court to start a lawsuit against the states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin and Georgia, the four battleground states Biden won in the 2020 election.

Johnson also tweeted, “Today I made arrangements to file an amicus brief in the Texas case now pending at the Supreme Court on behalf of House Republicans who are all deeply concerned about the integrity of our election system… Also today, my friend, Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, agreed to join our state as a party to the case in support of Texas. Stay tuned for big developments…”

One House Republican told CNN’s Jake Tapper he was put off by the Johnson email. 

“Are we the party of list-making now?” the member said.

Sen. Chuck Schumer speaks during a press conference in December 2019.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer wouldn’t say how he would come down on the waiver for President-elect Joe Biden’s nominee for secretary of defense.

Lloyd Austin needs a congressional waiver to be confirmed for the civilian post because federal law requires seven years of retirement from active duty before taking on the role. Austin retired from active-duty service only four years ago.

Biden is set to formally introduce Austin as his nominee at an event in Wilmington, Delaware, today.

Sen. Chris Coons asks a question during a Senate Foreign Relations hearing on July 30.

Delaware Democratic Sen. Chris Coons said he would “encourage” President-elect Joe Biden to be vaccinated as soon as a vaccine is approved for use in the US but said the decision whether to do so is up to the incoming President.

Asked who should decide whether Biden gets the vaccine before others, Coons responded, “the President-elect.”

Coons added that the “exact connection between Warp Speed and the transition is uneven. I’m confident this will be ironed out quickly. But the decision about when the President-elect will have access to that vaccine, that’s not something I can say.”