Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, will chair a joint session of Congress on Wednesday for a speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the senator’s office confirmed to The Hill.
Cardin will fill the role normally held by the vice president. Vice President Harris’ team did not respond to a request for comment, but she is expected to travel during Netanyahu’s speech.
Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), next in line to preside as president pro tempore of the Senate, allegedly refused to do this. The Hill has reached out to his office for comment.
Several Democrats are expected to boycott Netanyahu’s speech due to his criticism that the Israeli leader is responsible for a humanitarian crisis for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and is an obstacle to peace and an eventual two-state solution.
Cardin had previously said he had no opposition to Netanyahu speaking before Congress.
“I have no difficulty with the Prime Minister of Israel speaking to a joint session of Congress,” he said.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
