Senate confirms Garcetti as India ambassador on divided vote

By MICHAEL R. BLOOD, MARY CLARE JALONICK and CHRIS MEGERIAN
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has confirmed former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti as the next ambassador to India, 20 months after he was initially selected for the post. Garcetti secured the 52-42 vote despite a break in support among his fellow Democrats. He was able to win over a handful of Republicans. The vote came amid continuing fallout from a sexual harassment scandal involving a former top adviser at Los Angeles City Hall. The vacancy in the ambassadorship has been a diplomatic gap for the Biden administration at a time of rising global tensions. President Joe Biden first nominated Garcetti for the post in July 2021.