Another controversial Obama recess appointment without Senate scrutiny. And one of those appointments has a suspect history, reports the Washington Post The most contentious of the appointments is Maria del Carmen Aponte, the administration's pick for ambassador to El Salvador.Senate Republicans questioned her during a March confirmation hearing about a former romantic relationship with a Cuban national connected to Cuban intelligence.She denied any contact with Cuban intelligence officials but said she met some Cuban officials socially over the course of the relationship.Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) and other Republicans later placed a hold on Aponte's nomination as they sought additional information about her background."The White House continued to deny senators information, despite numerous requests, and then recess appoints her to circumvent the advice and consent process. So much for transparency and accountability," said DeMint spokesman Wesley Denton.Aponte runs a...(Read Full Post)