Senators Pin Down Trump Nominee for US Ambassador to Kenya Kyle McCarter

Kyle McCarter, Donald Trump's nominee as US Ambassador to Kenya faced a tough vetting session on Tuesday by the US Senate's Foreign Relations Committee.

The senators questioned the nominee on different matters including immigration, gay rights and his controversial social media posts.

After Trump's win against Hillary Clinton, McCarter had tweeted: "Hillary for prison. No, really." This was in reference to calls for Ms Clinton's prosecution over highly controversial trove of emails.

Clinton's running mate, Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee wasted no time in putting McCarter to task over the tweet. Based on the tweet, Kaine questioned McCarter's suitability to represent the US in a foreign country.

Eventually, McCarter admitted he made a mistake in writing the social media post. "There is hype in an election that was perhaps not called for. It was perhaps not the wisest of tweets...It is one of those tweets you’d like to reel in but can’t," he stated.

Another tweet that landed him in trouble with the committee was one where he attacked former President Barrack Obama for 'welcoming of refugees.'

 In defense, McCarter noted that he was only interested in the proper vetting of immigrants. This came after Senator Chris Murphy reminded him that he "would be going to a country that hosts 500,000 refugees.”

Senator Jeanne Shaheen put McCarter on the spot over his past negative remarks on same-sex relationships, but in response, the nominee said he supports decriminalization of homosexuality and promised to meet members of the LGBT community in Kenya.

Trump nominated Kyle as the new envoy to Kenya to replace Ambassador Robert Godec.  Godec was appointed to the position by former President Obama in 2012.