President-elect Joe Biden is already putting together his picks for positions in his Cabinet in time for January when he is sworn into the presidency. Biden makes more announcements of his picks in Cabinet positions, such as housing and urban development as well as agriculture.
People knowledgeable in the matter have revealed that Biden is set to announce Ohio Congresswoman Marcia Fudge as his Housing and Urban Development Secretary and Tom Vilsack to return to being the Agriculture Secretary for the incoming Biden administration. The nomination of Fudge and Vilsack also marks Biden’s commitment to a diverse Cabinet as well as his instinct to choose those who have previously served under the Obama administration.
Fudge was reelected to a seventh term in Congress and is a former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. Vilsack was the Agriculture Secretary for eight years under the Obama administration and was a two-term governor for Iowa. Prior to being a reported nominee for Housing and Urban Development, Fudge was initially believed to become the Agriculture Secretary, with support from Congressman Jim Clyburn.
Although she did not confirm that she was considered for the post, Fudge said that she would be honored to become part of the Cabinet. “It is something in probably my wildest dreams I never would have thought about. So if I can help this president in any way possible, I am more than happy to do it,” said Fudge. The Ohio Congresswoman was also warmly supported by civil rights leaders that Biden met with when it came to revealing who he had in mind for the post.
Donald Trump and his allies have constantly attacked Biden’s son Hunter Biden, whose business in Ukraine was what set off the outgoing president’s impeachment trials. The Biden transition team has since released a statement from Hunter Biden, effectively breaking his silence on the corruption claims pushed onto him by Trump. In the statement, Mr. Biden revealed that the US Attorney’s office in Delaware has opened an investigation into his tax affairs.
“I take this matter very seriously but I am confident that a professional and objective review of these matters will demonstrate that I handled my affairs legally and appropriately, including with the benefit of professional tax advisers,” said Hunter.