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Warren Supports Former Rival Brown for Top VA Post

Also says she would support Mitt Romney if Donald Trump nominates him for secretary of State

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts told reporters that former Republican Sen. Scott Brown, who she beat in 2012, is the right man for the job. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts told reporters that former Republican Sen. Scott Brown, who she beat in 2012, is the right man for the job. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren said Thursday she would endorse former political rival Scott Brown for Veteran Affairs secretary, surprising many who knew the pair as bitter campaign rivals. 

In an interview with Boston public radio station, WGBH, Warren told reporters she believed Brown was the right man for the job.

“If Scott Brown is the nominee for Veterans Affairs, I have no doubt that he would put his heart and soul into trying to help veterans,” Warren said, “and I would put my heart and soul into trying to help him do that. You bet I’d support that.”

Warren unseated the Republican incumbent in a close contest in 2012 after he was the surprise winner two years earlier to finish the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy’s term. But she has been critical of Brown in various speeches ever since.

Brown, who endorsed Donald Trump right before the New Hampshire primary, retired in 2014 after 35 years of service in the Army National Guard. He lost his bid to return to the Senate in New Hampshire that same year, losing to incumbent Democrat Jean Shaheen.

After receiving Warren’s endorsement, tweeted his appreciation.

“My thanks to for her kind words,” Brown said. “If nom. for SecVA, I will welcome her support, passion and help to serve our Vets.”

In the same interview, Warren also backed former Massachusetts governor and 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney for Secretary of State.

“I’d like to hear more, but I think Mitt Romney is a smart man, and I think he’s got a pretty levelheaded view of the world,” she said.

Warren has been notoriously critical of many of President-elect Trump’s other appointments, most notably Treasury nominee and Goldman Sachs alum Steve Mnuchin, who she called the “Forrest Gump of the financial crisis.”

“His selection as Treasury Secretary should send shivers down the spine of every American who got hit hard by the financial crisis,” Warren said in a statement, “and is the latest sign that Donald Trump has no intention of draining the swamp and every intention of running Washington to benefit himself and his rich buddies.”

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