Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) voted against John Brennan’s confirmation as CIA director Thursday, citing the administration’s secrecy surrounding their policy of using drones for targeted killings of U.S. citizens.
“I have worked with John Brennan, and I respect his record, his experience, and his dedication to public service,” Leahy said in a statement. “But the administration has stonewalled me and the Judiciary Committee for too long on a reasonable request to review the legal justification for the use of drones in the targeted killing of American citizens. The administration made the relevant OLC memorandum available to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence in order to advance this nomination. I expect the Judiciary Committee, which has oversight of the Office of Legal Counsel, to be afforded the same access. For that reason, I reluctantly opposed Mr. Brennan’s nomination.”
Brennan was confirmed Thursday by a vote of 63-34.
