Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez’s nomination to lead U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement may be in jeopardy after a Senate Republican surfaced an unsubstantiated allegation of domestic abuse against Gonzalez.
that he has spoken to Gonzalez about the allegation and there are “unanswered questions that need to be answered.”
Spencer said his former boss is “an open book,” and he is speaking to White House and Senate officials candidly and answering questions and “he’s being as transparent with this as with everything he’s done since he’s been in public service.” “If these allegations of physical and violent domestic abuse are true, they are disqualifying for a law enforcement officer at any level and raise significant questions about the nominee,” Lankford wrote in a letter calling for the vote to be delayed. “It would be irresponsible for the Senate to vote on the confirmation of Sheriff Gonzalez to be Director of ICE until we determine whether the allegations outlined in the attached affidavit are true.
“The jest [sic] of the investigation concerned the Sheriff allegedly becoming physical or violent with Mrs. Gonzalez because of her romantic relationship with the Chancellor,” the affidavit said. Spencer said: “Melissa Gonzalez has a PhD, she’s a college president who is fully capable of speaking for herself and who has unquestioned credibility and integrity in this community. She’s not shy, she’s a strong woman.”
Biden nominated him last April, with Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas then calling him “a strong choice.” When the Senate didn’t act on the nomination last year, Biden renominated Gonzalez.