Biden’s Homeland Security pick faces questions on 2015 probe

WASHINGTON — The last time Alejandro Mayorkas faced Senate confirmation, not a single Republican voted for him because there was an open investigation into his management of the U.S. immigration agency under President Barack Obama. “He is a man of great integrity and principle, with an incomparable work ethic, who understands the complexities of this critical agency and the threats facing our country at this crucial moment,” said Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., who chaired the Homeland Security Committee when Mayorkas was named deputy DHS chief in 2013. “While we fully expected disagreement with some members of the Senate, we’re gratified by the overwhelmingly positive reaction and strong bipartisan acclaim that Alejandro has received,” spokesman Sean Savett said. Still, there is almost certainly to be more parsing of the inspector general’s report, which was recently raised by Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., in an appearance on “Fox & Friends.” The report deals with three applications under what’s known as the EB-5 visa program, which was created in the 1990s under President George H.W. The report said Mayorkas intervened in an administrative appeal for an investment in an application by Gulf Coast Funds, which was run by Hillary Rodham Clinton’s brother, Anthony Rodham, and whose board chairman was Democratic fundraiser and former Virginia Gov.