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WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 (PTI) — Former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti is fully qualified to serve as the US ambassador to India, the White House said on Thursday.
The statement came days after influential Senator Chuck Grassley opposed Garcetti’s nomination as he faced allegations of sexual harassment by a staff member.
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However, White House press secretary Karin Jean-Pierre told reporters at her daily briefing that a diplomat in India is a priority.
“As you know, this is a priority and will continue to be our priority. Mayor Garcetti is well qualified to take on this important role,” she said.
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“I strongly oppose the nomination of Eric Garcetti as Ambassador to India. With serious allegations of sexual harassment and racism rampant in the Los Angeles mayor’s office, I have to vote against Garcetti,” Grassley said.
His remarks on the Senate floor come as the White House is stepping up efforts to push Garcetti into the post that has been vacant for nearly two years. India currently holds the presidency of the G20, and the two countries have frequent diplomatic activities. The Biden administration hopes to send a special envoy to New Delhi as soon as possible.
Garcetti, who served as the 42nd mayor of Los Angeles from July 2013 to December 2022, is a close aide to President Joe Biden. PTI/LKJ
(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)
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