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Steven Mnuchin, Trump's pick for Treasury secretary, confirmed by the Senate after fierce opposition by Democrats

  Bob Bryan Treasury Secretary Steven MnuchinWin McNamee/Getty Images Steven Mnuchin was confirmed by the US Senate on Monday night as the new Secretary of the Treasury. Mnuchin's confirmation came down nearly on a party line vote of 53 to 47, with no Republicans voting against the confirmation. Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia voted for Mnuchin. Mnuchin, a former  Goldman Sachs banker and hedge fund manager , came under fire during his confirmation for various mistakes in financial disclosures to the Senate, as well as several previous investments. Mnuchin's fund invested in a mortgage lender called IndyMac at the height of the housing crisis (the name was later changed to OneWest). The lender's subsequent foreclosures on homeowners was called out by opponents as proof that the Treasury nominee profited from the financial woes of everyday Americans. Democrats claimed Mnuchin's company used  tactics such as robo-signing  to foreclose on as many peo...

Trump’s Cabinet Picks Have Faced Record-Setting Opposition

By ADAM PEARCE FEB. 9, 2017 Historically, the Senate voted with little opposition to confirm a president’s first slate of cabinet nominees. As Congress has become more partisan and quicker to oppose incoming presidents, more nominees have faced contentious confirmation votes. With less than half of his cabinet in place, President Trump’s confirmed nominees have already faced an unprecedented level of opposition. Only five first-year nominees have ever received 40 or more “no” votes. Three of those nominees were under Mr. Trump. Number of “no” votes Cabinet nominees during a president’s first year in office After a 50-50 vote on Tuesday, Betsy DeVos was the first cabinet nominee ever to require a  tie-breaking confirmation vote  from a vice president. Jeff Sessions was confirmed as attorney general on Wednesday despite receiving 47 “no” votes, the third highest number among all first-year nominees. John G. Tow...