US President Donald Trump has withdrawn Joel Rayburn’s nomination for assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, a source confirms.
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump has withdrawn the nomination of Joel Rayburn, his former Syria envoy, to become assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs.
A source familiar with the matter confirmed the withdrawal on Monday.
Trump nominated Rayburn in February for the State Department position responsible for Middle East policy.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held Rayburn’s confirmation hearing in May.
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Republican Senator Rand Paul and committee Democrats expressed concerns about the nomination.
The panel held an unusual vote last week to advance the nomination without recommending Rayburn to the full Senate.
Senators questioned whether Rayburn participated in misleading US officials about troop numbers in Syria during Trump’s first term.
Rayburn stated at his hearing that he played no role in any deception.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the withdrawal.
Online media outlet Axios first reported the nomination withdrawal.
Rayburn previously served at the State Department and National Security Council during Trump’s first administration. – Reuters
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