February 7th, 2018 by WCBC Radio
Sen. Ben Cardin is losing his role as the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, ending a run that began almost three years ago with the tricky politics of the Iran nuclear deal. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Tuesday that Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey would return to the role of ranking member. Cardin took over the job in 2015 as Menendez was fighting federal corruption charges. Menendez’s trial last fall ended in a mistrial, and the Justice Department dropped those charges last week.
The move, which came a day after Cardin filed for re-election in November, is a blow for the longtime Maryland politician. The position had significantly elevated his national profile, allowing him to serve as the Democratic voice opposing President Donald J. Trump’s foreign policy.
Cardin will now return to his role as the top Democrat on the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, a committee with a smaller portfolio. He is expected to remain a member of the Foreign Relations, Finance, and Environmental and Public Works committees.
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