Senate Republicans are chiding the White House for failing to renominate a member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission who publicly complained that the panel's Democratic chairman was an intimidating bully.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky denounced the "curious lack of action" on Kristine Svinicki's reappointment to the NRC and called further delay unacceptable.
If Svinicki's nomination is not sent to the Senate soon, McConnell said Wednesday, "we will be forced to conclude that the reason is related to her honorable actions as a whistleblower — that she's being held up in retaliation for speaking up against a rogue chairman."
A White House spokesman declined immediate comment.
Svinicki and three other NRC commissioners complained publicly to Congress last year that NRC Chairman Gregory Jaczko's actions could compromise nuclear safety.
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