{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.booker.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=509", "Booker Statement on Rex Tillerson Nomination", "2016-12-13", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Cory Booker", "B001288", "www.booker.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 13, 2016\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWashington, DC \u2013 U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) issued the following statement:\n\u201cI have serious concerns regarding the President-Elect\u2019s choice of Rex Tillerson to lead the Department of State. Mr. Tillerson's lifelong\u00a0career at Exxon does not offer the full range of experience necessary to lead our nation\u2019s efforts to tackle some of the world\u2019s most pressing challenges, ranging from suppression of free speech and media to human rights violations, global climate change, and violent insurgencies.\n\u201cFurthermore, Mr. Tillerson\u2019s close ties to Russia, and Mr. Putin specifically, are deeply\u00a0disconcerting in their own right and particularly when taken in the broader context of the incoming Administration\u2019s cozy ties to the Kremlin. In fact, while\u00a0the United States and its allies were increasing\u00a0sanctions of Russia over their actions in Ukraine,\u00a0Mr.\u00a0Tillerson was busy pursuing closer ties to the Russian government. That gives me great\u00a0pause when I think about the key characteristics needed to be America\u2019s top diplomat, among them an\u00a0unwavering commitment to pursuing America\u2019s best interests, values, and national security.\n\u201cHis relationships and the resulting conflicts of interest demand\u00a0great scrutiny, which is especially appropriate in light of Russia's efforts to influence the outcome of November's election.\u00a0I look forward to Mr. Tillerson\u2019s hearing and a\u00a0thorough vetting by the Senate.\u201d\u200e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.booker.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=509"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.4386989641934633, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}