WASHINGTON: The US Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday endorsed John Brennan to be the next CIA director, after the White House turned over secret memos on the targeted killing of Americans.
Senators voted by 12 votes to three to approve Brennan, putting him on track to be President Barack Obama's third confirmed national security nominee, after Secretary of State John Kerry and Pentagon chief Chuck Hagel.
A full Senate vote on Brennan's confirmation is expected this week.
"No one is better prepared to be CIA director than Mr. Brennan," committee chair Senator Dianne Feinstein said in a statement announcing the vote.
Brennan has been subjected to a two-month confirmation process, with some US lawmakers insisting that questions remain about his nomination or using it as leverage to force the White House to release it more classified information.
Republicans notably wanted answers about the secret US drone program and a deadly attack on US diplomats on September 11, 2012 in Benghazi, Libya.
They got much of it on Tuesday, when the White House agreed to release more material, including secret Justice Department memos on the president's powers to authorize the killing of Americans in counter-terror operations.
"Just last night I reached agreement with the White House to review all OLC (Office of Legal Counsel) opinions on targeted killings of Americans," Feinstein said. "It was unfortunate these issues delayed the process, but I am confident that they have been resolved."
World News
Courtesy: Geo News
