The Obama administration's assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere Affairs was sworn in Tuesday after a senator decided to release his hold on the nomination.Arturo Valenzuela, confirmed by the Senate, had been unable to take over because of a Senate rule that gives a single senator the right to stop action on a nomination. Republican Sen. Jim DeMint had kept Valenzuela from assuming his job because DeMint disagreed with the administration's support for overthrown Honduran President Manuel Zelaya.
DeMint lifted the hold and one he had placed on Tom Shannon as U.S. ambassador to Brazil. DeMint said he was satisfied the administration would support Nov. 29 Honduran elections even if Zelaya were not restored as president beforehand.
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