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Tennessee Valley Authority nominee Lee Beeman defends record and vows to uphold TVA's public role as senators press on ethics and 2020 letter
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Summary
Lee Beeman, President Trump’s nominee to the TVA board, told senators he would protect TVA’s public power mission but faced sustained questioning about past political activity, a 2020 letter about electors, tenant relationships and holdings; he pledged to divest specified stocks and to provide additional details requested for the record.
Lee Beeman, nominated to the Tennessee Valley Authority board, emphasized his decades-long private-sector career, philanthropic donations and civic service while repeatedly assuring senators he would support TVA’s public power model and oppose privatization.
During questioning, senators pressed Beeman on several controversy points raised in the hearing: his role as campaign treasurer for Representative Andy Ogles in 2022, alleged Office of Congressional Ethics findings related to Ogles, a December 2020 letter Beeman signed urging alternate electors, the presence of tenants in his Capitol Hill property and statements attributed to Pastor Steve Berger who accompanied him to the hearing.
Beeman acknowledged he served as Ogles’ campaign treasurer for four months in 2022 and said he would answer detailed committee questions for the record. He denied having been Ogles’ campaign manager and said he would provide the committee the disclosures requested. When asked whether he still believed Joe Biden had not been properly elected in 2020 — a position he earlier promoted in writing — Beeman said, "At this point, I do not" and added he now trusts the electoral process.
Senators also asked whether Beeman would distance himself from Pastor Steve Berger's reported violent comments about LGBTQ people; Beeman said he had not heard those comments before and that he did not agree with such statements. "I was not until I read that, in briefings for this meeting," Beeman said when asked if he had been aware of Berger’s alleged remarks.
Senator Merkley asked Beeman to disclose and, if necessary, divest holdings in certain technology companies; Beeman said he had already disclosed holdings and agreed to divest specific stocks that were recommended. Merkley also raised a reported class-action settlement connected to discrimination in auto lending tied to Beeman's dealerships; Beeman said he would provide the committee the settlement details.
Several senators pressed Beeman on his public-power commitments. Asked by Senator Markey whether he would oppose privatizing TVA or outsourcing core functions, Beeman replied "Yes, sir" and said he believes TVA is appropriately structured as a government entity serving regional customers.
Multiple senators stated they would submit articles and letters into the record opposing or scrutinizing the nomination; one such letter from Representative Steve Cohen was accepted for the record at the nominee’s hearing. The committee took no confirmation vote at the session and set deadlines for written questions and nominee responses.
The hearing transcript documents both the allegations advanced by senators and Beeman’s denials or clarifications; the committee requested follow-up documentation and written answers to unresolved queries.
