Biden’s Bank Watchdog Pick Faces Pushback from Key Democrats

OCC nominee Omarova addresses critics at confirmation hearing
Democrats Tester, Warner express concerns with her past views

Saule Omarova testifies before the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 18.Photographer: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images

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By Jesse Hamilton and Robert Schmidt

November 18, 2021 at 4:06 PM UTC

Updated on

November 18, 2021 at 6:24 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

President Joe Biden’s pick to lead a top banking watchdog is on shaky ground after key Democratic senators criticized Saule Omarova.

Jon Tester of Montana and Mark Warner of Virginia expressed concerns about the nominee to be chief of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency at a hearing Thursday, raising doubt that she will have enough votes to be confirmed. Republicans have uniformly opposed the outspoken Cornell Law School professor and because the Senate is 50-50, all eyes are on undecided moderate Democrats.