DOT Nominee Michael Rutherford Grilled on January 6th and Google's Self-Driving Car Testing

Scrutiny of DOT Nominee Michael Rutherford

• Senator Ben Ray Luján questioned Michael Rutherford, nominee for Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Multimodal Freight, during a Senate Commerce Committee hearing.
• The primary focus was Rutherford's past statements and opinions regarding the January 6th Capitol attack and his previous work at Google.

Google's Self-Driving Car Testing Practices

• Rutherford's tenure at Google X, working on self-driving cars, was brought up, specifically the logging of over 100,000 miles on public roads without public disclosure.
• A quote attributed to Rutherford suggested that keeping the project quiet enabled testing "under the radar of public opinion and lawmakers" to avoid slowing down the program.
• Rutherford clarified that the context was keeping engineering teams focused and avoiding distractions, and stated he was not with the company in 2010 when the testing began, joining in 2011.
• He asserted that at the time of testing, there was an absence of a regulatory framework, and the company complied with received testing frameworks.
• When asked if innovation should be prioritized over public safety and oversight, Rutherford stated, "Absolutely not."

January 6th Capitol Attack Discussion

• Senator Luján pressed Rutherford on his characterization of January 6th as a "disruption" and his father's vote against certifying the election results.
• Rutherford stated he does not condone violence against law enforcement officers.
• When directly asked if January 6th was an insurrection, Rutherford responded, "I would leave that to someone else to describe."
• He acknowledged that January 6th "disrupted the process of the day," noting that people died and officers were injured or killed.
• Senator Luján emphasized the importance of words and leadership, urging that "words matter" in public discourse.

Concerns Regarding Nominee's Qualifications

• Senator Luján also questioned Mr. Zerzan, acting solicitor at the Department of Interior, about his experience in transportation law and regulatory issues specific to the Department of Transportation.
• Zerzan admitted to not having a substantial background in transportation law, leading Luján to express bafflement at the administration's staffing decisions, suggesting nominees should have deep knowledge in their respective fields.