Senate OKs 4 Envoys After 4-Month Delay
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WASHINGTON — The Senate approved the nominations of four Democratic loyalists to ambassadorial posts Tuesday after a four-month delay because of questions about their foreign policy expertise.
M. Larry Lawrence, a San Diego developer and hotel owner, was confirmed as ambassador to Switzerland by a 76-19 vote.
The other three, Sidney Williams for the Bahamas, K. Terry Dornbush for the Netherlands and Thomas Siebert for Sweden, were approved by voice vote.
Williams, a former professional football player and a car salesman, is married to U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles).
Lawrence in particular was singled out last year by the private American Foreign Service Assn. for his lack of foreign affairs experience and allegations of irregularities in his campaign contributions to the Democratic Party.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee submitted his name to the full Senate last November without a recommendation.
Dornbush has contributed more than $250,000 to the Democratic Party over the past three elections, and Lawrence almost $200,000.
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