President Donald Trump’s pick to chair the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) faced questions from a Senate panel on Thursday regarding his stake in a financial consultancy, Patomak Global Partners. 

Paul Atkins, a former SEC commissioner who served in the role during the George W. Bush administration, faced wide-ranging questions during a confirmation hearing regarding his financial interests, his record serving in government and his priorities if confirmed as chair. He disclosed in a March 20 federal ethics filing that he would resign as chief executive of the consultancy, Patomak Global Partners and divest his ‘membership interest’ in the firm within 90 days of his confirmation. 

Patomak has worked with financial services firms, including those in the cryptocurrency industry, which the SEC has promised of late to provide guidance with practical regulation. 

During the banking committee hearing, Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren raised questions about potential conflicts of interest,...