Bidens FAA Pick Denies Wrongdoing as Senators Weigh Allegations

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President Joe Bidens nominated to lead the Federal Aviation Administration defended himself after being nominated in a search warrant in Los Angeles, a development that could complicate his path to confirmation.

All the allegations are false, Phil Washington told Bloomberg at an Air Line Pilots Association conference in Washington, DC, on Thursday.

Biden nominated Washington in July to lead the agency responsible for aviation safety and air traffic control. The Senate committee that oversees the FAA has not scheduled Washingtons nomination hearing, but its top Republican member said the process will require additional scrutiny.

Photo: Bob Chamberlin/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Phil Washington at Los Angeles Metro headquarters when his hiring as CEO was announced on March 12, 2015.

The Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department served several search warrants this week in an ongoing public corruption investigation. Investigators are looking into how the LA County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which Washington led for six years, awarded the organization Peace Over Violence sole-source contracts for a sexual harassment hotline.

LA County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, a member of the LA Metro board of directors whose home was searched, said the warrant wasnt motivated by an effort to look into the awarding of the contract, which she says never involved her.

The basis of this search was questionable and will be investigated, she said on Twitter, adding that it was a thuggish attempt to intimidate and silence not just me but many other public servants.

An unknown witness alleged that Washington skipped the traditional hiring process for several MTA employees, according to the the search warrant. The warrant includes a search for correspondence of metro officials, including Washington.

Appointment Vetting

A White House official said Washingtons nomination will be evaluated as it moves through the Senate, and the administration will allow that process to play out.

Washington said he was not familiar with the search warrant. He said he supported the hotline, calling it a really good effort to protect women and girls on the system. He said he hadn’t been contacted by anyone in the Senate about the search warrant reports.

Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation ranking member Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) said he was already skeptical about Washingtons lack of experience in aviation and now is deeply troubled by the search warrant.

The committees vetting process will require additional scrutiny and review into his leadership at LA Metro, Wicker said in a statement. I anticipate that this nominees credibility will also be a key focus.

Aviation Nominee Urged to Shake That Agency Out of Gridlock

Some Democrats defended Washington. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said Washington is a strong manager, which is what the agency needs, and that he had been adequately vetted.

The Denver airport fully investigated this and they found no basis, DeFazio told reporters at the Air Line Pilots Association conference. This is a political dispute between a supervisor whos elected, and the county sheriff, whos elected, and Phil is tangentially involved in this dispute.

Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), chair of the Commerce Committee, told reporters she wasnt ready to comment when asked about the allegations affecting Washingtons nomination.

Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) called Washington one of the most straight-laced people Ive ever met.

I dont think theres any merit to the allegations, said Hickenlooper, who serves on Commerce panel. Therefore, they should not be any basis for a decision. And Ill certainly lobby the best I can.

To contact the reporters on this story: Alan Levin in Washington at [email protected]; Lillianna Byington in Washington at [email protected]

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Sarah Babbage at [email protected]; Anna Yukhananov at [email protected]

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