A spokesman for Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) slammed President Trump’s nominee to serve as ambassador to several Caribbean nations, saying the nominee should “put on his tinfoil hat and visit our office with evidence for his salacious conspiracy theories and cuckoo allegations.”
Sasse’s spokesman made the comments about Leandro Rizzuto Jr., whom Trump nominated last month to serve as ambassador to Barbados and several other Caribbean countries, one day after CNN reported that Rizzuto had shared conspiracy theories about Trump’s political opponents.
{mosads}CNN found tweets shared by Rizzuto during the 2016 campaign spreading the unfounded theories, including that Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) was having an affair and that billionaire and Democratic mega-donor George Soros was backing Cruz and former Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R).
“While he’s at it, the Senate probably needs to know his views on the moon landing,” Sasse’s spokesman said in the statement, which was obtained by the Washington Examiner. “I’m sure Senator Sasse will be willing to evaluate the specific evidence for his claims — but it’s got to be more than a stack of National Enquirers.”
“People who want to serve Americans as our diplomats and spokespeople abroad should know that words and truth matter, even during campaigns. Cynics and nuts are probably going to have a hard time securing Senate confirmation,” the spokesman continued.
Rizzuto declined to comment to CNN for the original report, citing State Department guidelines.
Rizzuto, a Conair executive, will face Senate confirmation for the position.