The Senate voted 72-27 Monday night to confirm billionaire Wilbur Ross as President Trump's commerce secretary.
Monday night's decision makes Ross the 14th member of Trump's Cabinet to be confirmed. There are still seven nominees that have to be voted on.
Although Ross faced less pushback during his four-hour confirmation hearing than other members of Trump's Cabinet, Democrats questioned his business ties to Russia.
"Mr. Ross has extensive ties to Russia. He plans to keep making money from his major oil shipping companies while working as Commerce Secretary. He's made billions off the backs of struggling home owners," Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said Monday. "He is practically a cartoon stereotype of a Wall Street fat cat."
Warren also questioned the way Ross ran a mortgage lender during the housing crisis.
For any and all these reasons, today I urged my colleagues to vote NO on Wilbur Ross for @CommerceGov. https://t.co/n5KKjRI5ps
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) February 27, 2017
Ross is giving up his position at Diamond S. Shipping as part of his ethics agreement, but he will still retain a stake in the company.
The 79-year-old, who is worth an estimated $2.9 billion has extensive business ties around the world.
Ross is expected to lead the way, working to re-do the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). NAFTA was originally negotiated and signed by President Bill Clinton, but Ross said all free trade agreements of this nature should be reevaulated every few years.
Congratulations to our new Secretary of @CommerceGov, Wilbur Ross! pic.twitter.com/pMmlLRzwky
— President Trump (@POTUS) February 28, 2017
Trump congratulated Ross on Twitter.
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