White House press secretary Jen Psaki speaks at a press briefing at the White House in Washington, on Sept. 9, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

       WASHINGTON (Kyodo) -- President Joe Biden has nominated former Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel as U.S. ambassador to Japan due partly to his "extensive experience as a public servant," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Thursday.

       The remarks came amid doubts raised by some Democratic Party members over Emanuel's qualifications for the high-profile post, in connection with his controversial handling of a fatal shooting of a black teenager by a white police officer in 2014 in Chicago.

       "The reason the president nominated Rahm Emanuel to serve as ambassador to Japan is that he has a record of extensive experience as a public servant, as somebody who was elected in Congress, and he thinks he would be somebody who would represent the U.S. interest in Japan," Psaki told a press conference.

       Last month, Biden announced his intention to nominate Emanuel, 61, for the key diplomatic post that has been vacant for about two years. The nomination requires Senate approval.

       Emanuel is known for his abrasive style and his close ties with Biden, who served as vice president for eight years through January 2017 under the Barack Obama administration.

       Emanuel was White House chief of staff for Obama from 2009 to 2010 before becoming Chicago's mayor for two terms from 2011 to 2019. But he decided not to seek another term after facing criticism over the shooting incident.

       A delay in releasing video footage of the 17-year-old Laquan McDonald, who appeared in the video to be walking away from the police when he was shot 16 times, stirred criticism that Emanuel was involved in an alleged "cover-up" of the incident.

       Emanuel was also a member of the House of Representatives from 2003 to 2009.

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