Sen. Bob Corker Robert (Bob) Phillips CorkerHas Congress captured Russia policy? Tennessee primary battle turns nasty for Republicans Cheney clashes with Trump MORE (R-Tenn.), the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, predicated Friday that President-elect Donald Trump Donald John TrumpBarr criticizes DOJ in speech declaring all agency power 'is invested in the attorney general' Military leaders asked about using heat ray on protesters outside White House: report Powell warns failure to reach COVID-19 deal could 'scar and damage' economy MORE's pick to lead the State Department, Rex Tillerson, will win confirmation handily.

"I predict that he's going to be overwhelmingly supported," Corker told reporters at a Christian Science Monitor event. "I predict that people are going to see what a distinguished this person is. I think they're going to see how substantial this person is."

The Foreign Relations Committee will hold a confirmation hearing for Tillerson next week.

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Tillerson has come under fire from Democrats, and some Republicans, because of his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin as the CEO of Exxon Mobil.

Corker, however, said that as senators meet with Tillerson and question him during the hearings, they will discover his views are not "out of the mainstream."

Democrats have also focused on Tillerson's financial ties and called on him to release his tax returns.

Corker reiterated on Friday that he will not require Tillerson to hand over his tax documents.

"We understand that some of this is political and some of this is real," he said, referring to Democratic criticism.

He and Sen. Ben Cardin Benjamin (Ben) Louis CardinPPP application window closes after coronavirus talks deadlock Congress eyes tighter restrictions on next round of small business help Senate passes extension of application deadline for PPP small-business loans MORE (D-Md.) exchanged rhetorical fire late last month over the issue, with Corker noting Tillerson will fill out the same financial and ethics disclosures that President Obama's nominees did.

Tillerson met with Democrats on the committee this week, including Cardin and Sen. Tim Kaine Timothy (Tim) Michael KaineThe Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - Pence lauds Harris as 'experienced debater'; Trump, Biden diverge over debate prep Catholic group launches .7M campaign against Biden targeting swing-state voters GOP senator to quarantine after coronavirus exposure MORE (Va.).