McCain drops objections to Defense nomination
Nominee for Pentagon's number two civilian slot is an ex-lobbyist for Raytheon.
Senate Armed Services ranking member John McCain, R-Ariz., has dropped his objections to President Barack Obama's choice for the Pentagon's No. 2 civilian slot, paving the way for a committee vote on the nomination expected this week.
A spokeswoman for McCain said Monday that Bill Lynn, a Raytheon executive and former company lobbyist whose nomination for deputy Defense secretary has drawn criticism on Capitol Hill, had provided McCain additional details about his lobbying activities and how that might affect his performance in the Pentagon.
"We intend to move forward with his nomination," the spokeswoman said.
During an interview Friday, Senate Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich., said he expected his panel to vote on the nominee as soon as Lynn provided more details in response to McCain's questions. McCain had demanded more answers from Lynn, saying in a tersely worded letter sent Thursday he was not satisfied with the nominee's initial answers to his detailed questions.
McCain's spokeswoman said the nominee responded Friday. Last month, Obama signed an executive order barring lobbyists entering the administration from dealing with issues or agencies they had lobbied in the last two years. But soon afterward, Lynn received a waiver that would allow him to serve at the Pentagon if confirmed by the Senate.