Labor secretary nominee’s confirmation hearing delayed again

CKE Restaurants chief executive Andrew Puzder, center, departs Trump Tower in New York after a meeting Dec. 7. (Andrew Harnik/AP)

*Update: Puzder’s confirmation hearing has been delayed to Feb. 7, according to the Senate HELP committee. Story developing.*

President Trump’s Labor secretary nominee, Andrew Puzder, is a week away from his scheduled confirmation hearing. But the fast-food executive has yet to turn in his required paperwork — joining the list of Cabinet nominees to be slow in submitting key documents.

In a letter sent to Puzder on Thursday morning that was obtained by The Post, Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) said she was worried the lag might not give lawmakers enough time to “perform a thorough review.”

“During our meeting nearly three weeks ago … you assured me your paperwork was already complete and that you expected it to arrive by the end of that week,” wrote Murray, who is the ranking Democrat on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) committee, which needs to vet and approve the Labor nominee before his nomination goes to the full Senate for a vote. “Unfortunately, the HELP Committee is still waiting.”

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Potential Cabinet members who fall under the HELP committee for review are required to turn in some forms that compile general background information and some financial details several days before their hearings. Nominees also need to complete a background check with the FBI and submit financial disclosures to the Office of Government Ethics. In her letter, Murray said she was still waiting to hear from the White House about whether Puzder had completed his background check.

A Senate aide confirmed that Puzder has filed his ethics paperwork with the Office of Government Ethics. But the report, which would outline how the nominee plans to avoid conflicts of interest if confirmed, is still being reviewed and has not been submitted to the Senate.

George Thompson, a spokesman for Puzder, said in a statement that “Mr. Puzder’s nomination paperwork is progressing and he is looking forward to the hearing.”

Other Cabinet-level nominees have faced delays with their required paperwork. Treasury secretary nominee Steve Mnuchin initially left out about $100 million in assets from his financial disclosure forms. Education pick Betsy DeVos did not submit her ethics agreement to the Senate until after her confirmation hearing, leading lawmakers to push back her confirmation vote and spurring Senate Democrats to request a second confirmation hearing.

In the letter, Murray also asked Puzder and all other Cabinet nominees to submit up to three years of tax returns. Nominees are not required to turn in tax returns by law, but the Senate has traditionally requested the forms for some nominees, such as the potential head of the Treasury, which oversees the IRS.

Labor secretary nominee’s confirmation hearing delayed again