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During a hearing on Tuesday, New Jersey Democratic Senator Bob Menendez blasted the Biden administration for not consulting the Senate on his decision to remove the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) from the State Department’s list of terrorist organizations.
Menendez, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, rebuked Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Brian Nichols on the difference between “consultation versus notification,” and said that this time he had “received the notification” through the Wall Street Journal.
“That is not what I consider consultation. And the lack of getting that type of consultation creates problems. So I hope we don’t relive it again.”
Menendez said he had not received any information regarding the measure and questioned Nichols about how the decision had been agreed upon from the government.
“My understanding of what you are doing is sanctioning those who have not put their arms down while delisting those that have and who are now following a peaceful path towards reintegration in their society,” Menendez said of the measure.
“Who drove the question of delisting the FARC? Was it [the National Security Council], was it State Department, who was it?” were the questions directed by the senator to Ambassador Nichols, who responded that the decision had already been made when he assumed his post.
