Senate confirmation hearings enter second day with Rex Tillerson, Jeff Sessions, Elaine Chao

The second day of Senate confirmation hearings begins Wednesday morning, with a slightly slimmer slate than had originally been planned.

President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of state, former ExxonMobil executive Rex Tillerson, will face heavy questioning, especially due to his ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, The New York Times reports. Tillerson has downplayed his relationship with Russia, though, and his prepared remarks claim "Russia today poses a danger, but it is not unpredictable in advancing its own interests" and that "common interests" will be sought.

Jeff Sessions, Trump's pick for attorney general, will return for his second day of questioning, and Elaine Chao, Trump's choice for transportation secretary, will also face a line of inquiry from advocates on both sides of the aisle, but is expected not to be a heavily-challenged choice.

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Hearings for education secretary nominee Betsy DeVos and C.I.A. head Mike Pompeo have been rescheduled.