[Michael.SF.]

the subject never came up in his Senate confirmation hearing, either because Kerry never disclosed it, or because his former colleagues were “too polite” to bring it up.

He omits a third possibility:

The members of the Senate committee were fully aware of it, and they were hoping that we (the minions) would not know this until it was to late.

If they did, they were right (in that regard).

[sport]

The members of the Senate ......

That one is where my money is on. And the Senators did not care.