Associate director of USC’s CREATE the subject of scrutiny in Washington

Senate Republicans are stalling the White House’s efforts to confirm Erroll Southers, associate director of USC’s Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events, as head of the Transportation Security Association, raising concerns about Southers’ qualifications and the vetting process.

In a letter to the White House several Republican senators voiced their concerns about Southers’ nomination. The letter contends that Southers submitted incorrect information regarding his time with the FBI and implores the administration to further investigate Southers’ background.

Clear discrepancies have been found between information Southers submitted in a document and the way he later recalled the same events. But Southers and White House officials are attributing the inconsistencies to a mere memory lapse, the Washington Post has reported.

The vote on Southers’ nomination could reach the Senate floor next week, POLITICO reports. Republicans, led by Senator Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) intend to continue fighting the nomination.