The Senate confirmed Avril Haines to be director of national intelligence in what was the first confirmation vote of the Biden administration.
Haines, a former top CIA official who also served as White House deputy national security advisor under President Obama, was confirmed by a 84-10 vote.
It is customary for an incoming administration to get at least a few Cabinet officials, usually for positions involving national security or foreign affairs, confirmed on Inauguration Day.
On the day of President Trump’s inauguration, the then-GOP controlled Senate confirmed his first defense secretary, James Mattis, and Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly.
Until Wednesday afternoon, it was unclear if Biden would get any of his nominees confirmed on his first day in office. The Senate — which was Republican-controlled until Wednesday — was slow to schedule committee hearings for the initial round of nominees that Biden announced during the transition.
Haines ran into another snag on Wednesday, when Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) reportedly put a hold on her confirmation. (Expediting confirmations takes the consent of all 100 senators.)
Cotton, according to Politico, wanted follow up from Haines on a question about prosecuting CIA officials for their involvement in torture programs. He lifted his objection after Haines “clarified in a private setting that she had no intention to open up those investigations and expose operations officers inside the CIA to criminal prosecutions or adverse employment action,” Cotton said Wednesday.
Cotton… wanted follow up from Haines on a question about prosecuting CIA officials for their involvement in torture programs. He lifted his objection after Haines “clarified in a private setting that she had no intention to open up those investigations and expose operations officers inside the CIA to criminal prosecutions or adverse employment action,” Cotton said Wednesday.
First bitch slap of the administration.
Guess cotton needs some other tactic to get in front of a camera.
Maybe raise his fist shoulder high, while wearing a tight suit that only lets the wearer raise their fist shoulder high? I think that’s a thing now in Republican Congressional circles.
OT And The Hits Keep Coming …
Poor bastard. He gets less respect than Rodney Dangerfield.
As if anyone would hire him. LOL
His dad had to tie a pork chop around his neck to get the dog to play with him.
I guess there goes his pension.
Well damn should have read the article first.