The confirmation of the sheriff of Harris County, Texas, Ed González, to lead the office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) faces serious difficultiesdue to revelations of a domestic abuse allegation, although his wife says that claim is false.
The vote in the Senate on the nomination of González was delayed without a specific date, given the investigations in this regard.
There is an affidavit from July 2021 on a case involving Houston Community College, where Melissa, González’s wife, served as vice-rector, where apparently she would have faced some aggressionbut that has denied said event.
“Any suggestion that I filed or made a complaint against my husband is false and defamatory…To be clear, the statements referenced in the affidavit, as they relate to me, my husband, or my marriage, they are completely false”, Melissa González reportedly wrote to the White House.
According to a report by Houston Public Media, the White House indicated that the president Joe Biden will keep the sheriff’s nomination.
“Sheriff González is an extraordinarily qualified law enforcement professional with 30 years of experience,” the Biden Administration reportedly indicated.
He added that his appointment must be confirmed, without delay, by the Senate.
However, Republican Republican Senator James Lankford (Oklahoma), who is part of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, requested the delay of the vote to the Senate majority leader, Chuck Schumer (New York).
The report adds that there is no clear evidence of the accusations against González, but that has delayed its confirmation.
“The affidavit was signed by a former HCC police officer, but provides no evidence to support the claims of abuse. and does not allege physical violence. No charges were ever filed against the sheriff.”
Jason Spencer, a former spokesman for the sheriff’s office, posted on Twitter that although that story was known, there was no evidence of such claims and regretted that it affected González’s career and his confirmation as head of ICE.
“I have never worked with someone with more integrity, humility and a genuine desire to serve,” Spencer said.
González has criticized the 287(g) program, which allows ICE to have agreements with local police officers to detain immigrants, and amid criticism from Republicans, he stated at his hearing that he would not end the program.
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