Senate Dem: Hearing for Trump’s Commerce secretary pick could be delayed

The confirmation hearing for President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for Commerce secretary could be delayed because the nominee hasn’t submitted the necessary paperwork, according to the top Democrat on the Commerce Committee.

Wilbur Ross is scheduled to appear before the Senate Commerce Committee on Thursday morning for his confirmation hearing.

But Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), ranking Democrat on that committee, said Tuesday that Ross hasn’t sent in all of the forms and disclosures required of Cabinet nominees. That, Nelson said, could force committee leaders to delay the hearing.

{mosads}“We have not received the paperwork, and I don’t think the hearing would go ahead unless we have the paperwork,” said Nelson, who added he doesn’t “anticipate a problem” with the forms.

Spokespeople for Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune (R-S.D.) and the Trump transition team did not immediately comment.

All Cabinet nominees are required to submit extensive paperwork detailing their career, personal history and financial assets. Hearings for several of President-elect Trump’s nominees have been delayed or have yet to be scheduled.

A hearing scheduled this week for Betsy DeVos, Trump’s pick for Education secretary, was delayed after Democrats insisted she complete a review with the Office of Government Ethics before her hearing.

The Senate Finance Committee hasn’t yet scheduled a hearing for Steven Mnuchin, Trump’s pick for Treasury secretary. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), ranking Democrat on the Finance Committee, told The Hill on Tuesday that he wasn’t sure if Mnuchin had submitted all of the necessary paperwork yet.