WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) today issued the following statement on his intention to oppose the nomination of Rex Tillerson to be U.S. Secretary of State:

“I oppose the nomination of Rex Tillerson to be Secretary of State because I disagree with his views and record on Russian sanctions, the trustworthiness of Vladimir Putin, human rights, climate change, and other key issues.

“I don’t question Mr. Tillerson’s character and work ethic. 

“However, Mr. Tillerson repeatedly gave troubling answers to legitimate questions from both Republican and Democratic members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. 

“Mr. Tillerson’s inability to articulate well-crafted views on the most pressing foreign policy issues of the day, including his unwillingness to clearly distinguish between U.S. and Russian interests; his ambiguous responses with regard to sanctions, both vis-a-vis Russia and in general; and his unwillingness to reject out-of-hand something as objectionable as the prospect of a Muslim registry are of deep concern.

“The State Department should be led by someone who promotes America’s interests with an unwavering commitment to democracy and human rights.  If he is confirmed, I hope Mr. Tillerson will adopt these longstanding principles and use them to advance our diplomatic interests in concert with allies and partners around the world.”