Tough questions for possible pick for labor secretary

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Fox News alert on new reports concerning president Obama's possible pick for labor secretary.

Welcome to a brand new -- of America live everyone I'm Megyn Kelly.

There are a number of reports today suggesting the president is considering Tom Perez.

To replace outgoing labor secretary -- so least.

Perez is America's top civil rights enforcer at the Justice Department under -- -- He is the same -- his fingerprints are all over some rather significant controversies.

Including questions about.

Whether he may have lied.

About his role in the new Black Panther Party voter intimidation case.

You recall the Panthers were accused of blocking access and harassing voters.

-- Philadelphia polling station back on Election Day in 08.

In sworn testimony Peres said political motivations had nothing to do with the Justice Department dismissing that case after they had already won it.

But internal documents and emails uncovered by judicial watch suggest a different story.

Under -- the Justice Department conducted conducted seventeen civil rights investigations of police departments that's the most in its 54 year history.

One of the most high profile cases involving America's self proclaimed toughest sheriff Joseph Arpaio.

And investigation Arpaio suggested was all about politics.

And Perez led the push to challenge voter ID laws in Texas and South Carolina which was as you know a very divisive issue.

Joining us now Chris Iowa Fox News digital politics editor and host a power play a Fox News dot cop.

Chris this man -- is probably not that well known outside of Washington DC but he -- controversial figure.

And that the good news on him reading the reports today is the president would have to stretch to find somebody farther to the left.

For this position.

-- you know for all of the meals that the president has taken with Republicans lately.

And all of the fawning that you see from establishment press outlets about president's.

Reached the middle and you see that he is moderating and trying to do a deal with Republicans if -- were to make an appointment like this if you take such a controversial figure to Republicans guy who is.

Tangled up in so many things about that the Justice Department that Republicans do not like.

That is not exactly and all of branch of his first action after undertaking this so called charm offensive.

It's who put mr.

Peres forward for her to run the Labor Department this would debt this would not -- can increase the chances for detente.

Let's say tell us why first of all anyone should care about that that labor secretary what what in particular in 2013.

I -- well about this.

The National Labor Relations Board which is essentially and it Judy could give body.

That passes judgement on.

Labor practices and infringements and when or unions and companies do things.

Doesn't exist for all intents and purposes -- court invalidated president Obama's recess appointments to the you know our -- So it is defunct in because of political impasse is likely to be defunct throughout his term.

That means that for the president's allies in the labor movement who are very important to him and he's very important to them.

They're looking to the Department of Labor to get all the heavy lifting -- -- the only place that they're going to be it would go.

To try to advance its agenda and even now at this very moment they're waiting with rules that could make it much harder.

For companies to get advice from their boy yours when they're dealing with potential strikes were potential union organizing.

So there's a lot at stake in the labor department for all the employers in the country right now.

-- his world view matters it matters to both Democrats and Republicans.

On the new black panther case that.

2010.

Perez is the reason he resign from the DOJ that he that Peres was getting ready to give testimony to the Commission on Civil Rights.

And that testimony was going to be that the law and the facts did not support the case against that new Black Panther Party despite the fact that the DOJ -- RD one.

A default judgment against the party.

And he weighed in at the according to him and talked to Peres and set along with his colleague if you give that testimony you will not be telling the truth it will be false testimony.

And Perez went in testified that way in front of the commission in the next day.

Now Perez claims that that the whole thing was nonpolitical but the reason they got rid of that he's had nothing to do with politics.

And and I'm sure he'll be held.

Offer similar musings if asked about it again but there is a question in the minds of some whether this is a person who.

Can be trusted should be trusted it and an entrusted with what is going to be a very powerful post.

We'll think about this win before you did your interview and before you expo brought that to light before you did that work -- before so many people did so much else.

On this case mr.

-- nomination to be in his current position was held up for many months.

As a consequence of that case in some other things just think about what's happened not just on that case but on other controversies at the Department of Justice you mention.

The effort to force federal oversight of southern states.

Four voting issues that's been already controversial.

Yeah and then fast and furious and other things that have been going on -- the Justice Department the Republicans don't like so here's the thing that's from mr.

Peres.

Up to the senate for confirmation.

He's gonna have to answer whole lot of unhappy questions and Republicans are gonna make the president pay for.

Any.

You know.

Gender controversy here the president got hammered early on it in his second term for not.

Picking more women for his second term cabinet this is another post in which a woman is leaving and getting replaced.

It's true and you know look that do -- The president's critics on this issue -- continue to gently nudged him towards you need a more -- we need more gender diversity.

And all of those things but you know they're very forgiving of him especially when it's somebody who is this liberals such a liberal crusader the people who tend to care most about diversity for its own -- -- some people pretend to care very much.

About having somebody who -- real crusader a liberal crusader like mr.

press so they'll probably be easily mollified on that point.

We'll see whether the Republicans feel the same as the process goes out and plays out but we don't know for sure whether his presence just according the reports he's.

He's emerging as the one which they believe most likely our Chris thank you.

You bet.

-- a profile on -- spread shows that the 51 year old is a native of buffalo new York and is a first generation Dominican American.

Peres served as -- -- labor secretary from 2007 until 2009 when he was tapped for the Justice Department position.

His title in that current position as assistant attorney general civil rights division.

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