"The Torch" To Chair Subcommittee on Asia?

Democratic Sen. Robert "The Torch" Torricelli, the senior senator from New Jersey, who faces a federal investigation on charges of campaign fraud, said he hopes to become chairman of a newly-created subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations committee on central Asia. Since the Democrats took the majority, some have questioned Sen. Joseph Biden's (D-Del.) decision to maintain his post as both committee on foreign relations chair and European relations sub-committee chair, especially since the embattled Torricelli has lobbied so hard for a subcommittee chairmanship. Such a post could help elevate him in the eyes of voters and minimize any effects of bad press related to his campaign funding scandal, many have explained. Assuming he gets the nod, Torricelli will take the gavel on the central Asia subcommittee, which will have jurisdiction over the former Soviet Union and the Caspian Sea region.

Lynn Weil, press secretary for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, explained that at an ambassador confirmation hearing in July, Sen. Biden said the central Asia region was "very important," and indicated that he had discussed the possible creation of the new subcommittee led by Torricelli. At press time, Torricelli's spokeswoman said that the assignment had not been confirmed.

Sen. Biden could not be reached for comment because he was leading a congressional delegation to central Asia.