Donald Trump’s pick for secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, repeatedly pleaded ignorance as he faced tough questions about Russia during his congressional confirmation hearing – including allegations that Moscow collected compromising information about the president-elect.
Grilled by senators on Wednesday over his business ties to Moscow, past opposition to the imposition of sanctions and potential conflicts of interest, the former chief executive of ExxonMobil dug in his heels. Pressed on President Vladimir Putin’s record on human rights and military actions in Syria, he cited a lack of knowledge and claimed he and Trump had not yet “had the opportunity to discuss” the issue.
Tillerson, 64, who headed the world’s biggest oil company until last month, did acknowledge the existence of climate change, although he questioned how accurately its effects can be measured.
The confirmation hearing in a packed room on Capitol Hill in Washington was overshadowed by the publication of an unverified report by a former western intelligence official alleging secret contacts between the Trump campaign and Russia, and by a press conference held by the president-elect in New York at the same time.
Democratic senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut asked Tillerson if he had been briefed on the explosive allegations in the dossier, which was published online Tuesday night. “I have not,” he said.
Murphy asked if Trump had been briefed on them. Tillerson did not know. Murphy then asked if ExxonMobil had any business dealings with the Trump associates Paul Manafort and Carter Page, both of whose links to Moscow has been scrutinised. “Not that I’m aware of,” Tillerson said.
Tillerson had not yet received a security clearance and therefore did not have access to classified briefings. But he said he had read the unclassified report that US intelligence agencies released last week on Russian interference in the presidential election.
Asked about Moscow’s alleged cyber-attack, which Trump finally acknowledged at his press conference, Tillerson said: “That report clearly is troubling and indicates that all of the actions you just described were undertaken.”
Tillerson has a two-decade relationship with Putin and received the Order of Friendship from him in 2013, raising concerns over his independence.
At the hearing, which was briefly disrupted by protesters, Tillerson faced a particular grilling from Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, who was defeated by Trump in the Republican primaries, and Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, who was Hillary Clinton’s running mate.
Rubio asked bluntly: “Is Vladimir Putin a war criminal?”
Tillerson replied carefully: “I would not use that term.”
Rubio detailed the recent carnage of Aleppo, but Tillerson stood his ground: “Those are very, very serious charges to make and I want to have much more information.”
Rubio, the sole Republican who has said he might vote against Tillerson, noted “the videos and pictures are there” and argued that “it should not be hard to say that Vladimir Putin’s military has conducted war crimes in Aleppo”.
Still Tillerson did not yield. Rubio commented: “I find it discouraging, your inability to cite that which I think is globally accepted.”
Rubio went on to discuss the murder of Russian dissidents, journalists and political opponents. But Tillerson only said that he hoped to learn more once he could receive classified reports.
“None of this is classified, Mr Tillerson,” Rubio interjected. “People are dead.”
During his opening statement to the Senate foreign relations committee, Tillerson argued that Russia’s resurgence happened in the “absence of American leadership” and condemned its annexation of Crimea.
He said: “We must be clear-eyed about our relationship with Russia. Russia today poses a danger, but it is not unpredictable in advancing its own interests. It has invaded Ukraine, including the taking of Crimea, and supported Syrian forces that brutally violate the laws of war. Our Nato allies are right to be alarmed at a resurgent Russia.”
Kaine, meanwhile, pushed Tillerson on climate change. Exxon continues to fund groups that challenge the scientific consensus on the issue, the senator argued. He asked Tillerson to clarify what ExxonMobil has known about global warming despite its public claims through the years.
“Senator, since I’m no longer with ExxonMobil, I’m in no position to speak on their behalf,” Tillerson said.
Unimpressed, Kaine reminded Tillerson that he had been at the oil giant for more than four decades. “Do you lack the knowledge to answer my question, or do you refuse to answer my question?” the senator asked.
Tillerson replied: “A little of both,” to laughter in the room.
When Kaine shifted to potential conflicts of interest involving Trump’s business empire, Tillerson again denied knowledge. Kaine seized on the answer, asking about the implications of conducting diplomacy with foreign officials “who know more about the president’s financial interest and exposure than you do”.
Tillerson insisted that “as long as the objective of a negotiation is clear, that’s all that matters” to a secretary of state.
Tillerson said he would recuse himself if matters directly involving ExxonMobil arose during his tenure at the state department.
Confirmation hearings for Trump’s cabinet are coming thick and fast. It was the second day for Alabama senator Jeff Sessions, who is seeking confirmation for the position of attorney general. He came under fire from a fellow senator, Cory Booker, who claimed Sessions would not guarantee justice for all, and representative John Lewis, a veteran of the civil rights struggle.
Elaine Chao faced a far friendlier line of questioning before the Senate commerce, science and transportation committee during her confirmation hearing to lead the Department of Transportation.
Chao was introduced by her husband, Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, who reminded the committee that this wasn’t the first time a majority leader endorsed his wife for the role. Bob Dole, then the Republican Leader, had previously introduced his wife, Elizabeth Dole, to head the department.
Unlike many of Trump’s nominees, Chao is expected to be approved by the the committee with bipartisan support.