By: Real America News Updated 30 Mar 2022, 11: 55 am EDT
The confirmation of the sheriff of Harris County, Texas, Ed González, to direct the office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) faces serious difficulties, due to revelations of an allegation of domestic abuse, although his wife says that claim is false.
The vote in the Senate on the González’s nomination was delayed without a specific date, given the investigations in this regard.
There is an affidavit from July 2021 about a case involving Houston Community College, where Melissa, González’s wife, served as Vice Chancellor, where she reportedly faced some assault , but 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 a, in what refers to me, my husband or my marriage, they are completely false”, Melissa González would have written to the White House.
According to a report by Houston Public Media, the White House indicated that President Joe Biden will maintain the sheriff’s nomination.
“Sheriff González is an extraordinarily qualified law enforcement professional with 15 years of experience”, the Biden Administration would have indicated.
He added that his appointment should be confirmed, without delay, by part of the Senate.
However, 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 majority leader of the Senate, 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 police officer from H CC, but does not provide evidence to support claims of abuse and does not allege physical violence. Charges were never filed against the sheriff,” it adds.
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 statements and regretted that González’s career and his confirmation as head of ICE was affected.
“I have never worked with someone with greater integrity, humility and a genuine desire to serve,” said Spencer.
I left my job as @SheriffEd_HCSO’s spokesman last fail because I was certain the US Senate would approve President Biden’s selection of him as our next ICE Director. I’d never worked for anyone with more integrity, humility, and an authentic desire to serve.
I was naive.— Jason Spencer (@JSpencer_PR) March 9, 2022
González has criticized the program 287(g), which allows ICE to have agreements with local police officers for the retention of immigrants and, amid criticism from Republicans, affirmed in its hearing that it would not end the program.