Democrats cancel vote on Biden pick to lead ICE after domestic abuse allegations 

Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Gary PetersGary PetersTwo GOP senators share photos from Zoom call with Zelensky despite requests not to White House sides with Congress over contentious cyber bill DOJ officials criticize Senate-passed cyber bill MORE (D-Mich.) on Tuesday withdrew a motion to vote on Sheriff Ed Gonzelez, President BidenJoe Biden‘Batman’ scene criticized for portraying subway attack on Asian man GAO says 114 Capitol Police officers reported injuries on Jan. 6 Trump calls Barr a ‘Bushie’ who went to the other side MORE’s nominee to serve as director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), after the nominee’s wife accused him of domestic abuse.  

Peters asked for unanimous consent to withdraw a procedural motion to advance Gonzalez’s nomination after Sen. James LankfordJames Paul LankfordEnergy & Environment — Russian takeover sparks nuclear jitters Senate conservatives threaten to hold up government funding over vaccine mandate Russia inflames political war over gas prices, oil drilling  MORE (R-Okla.) sent a letter to him and Senate Majority Leader Chuck SchumerChuck Schumer‘Urgent’ COVID-19 funding hangs in balance amid partisan fight Two GOP senators share photos from Zoom call with Zelensky despite requests not to Zelensky calls on Congress to implement no-fly zone, block purchases of Russian oil MORE (D-N.Y.) raising concerns about the allegations. 

“Because of the severity of these allegations, the vote on this nomination should be postponed until it can be determined whether or not these allegations are true,” Lankford wrote.  

“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,” he wrote.  

Gonzelez’s wife told a police officer that the nominee became “physical or violent’ with her after he discovered she had a romantic relationship with her supervisor at Houston Community College, where she worked as vice chancellor, according to an affidavit filed by the officer.  

The affidavit, filed by Houston Community College police officer Frederick Portis, referenced Mrs. Gonzalez’s “romantic relationship” with the college’s chancellor, Cesar Maldonado.  

Lankford told Democratic colleagues the “cloture motion should be immediately withdrawn until this matter is resolved.”   

Biden renominated Gonzalez to lead ICE in January after the Senate failed to move on his nomination last year. The president first nominated him in April of last year.