WASHINGTON, D.C. (Nov. 15, 2016) -- U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) issued the following statement on Donald Trump's appointment of Steve Bannon, the former leader of the far-right website Breitbart News, as White House chief strategist and senior adviser:

"This first major decision made by our president-elect as he shapes his administration sends an alarming message about his leadership and the direction he wants to take our country. Steve Bannon has made a career out of selling hateful and divisive propaganda aimed at women, Hispanics, African Americans, Jews, and just about any American minority group you could think of. I find it sickening that my constituents will be paying the salary of a man viewed by White Supremacists as their modern champion.Gǥ