Another GOP senator puts a hold on intelligence nominee
Latest delay casts doubt on whether James Clapper can be confirmed as director of national intelligence before Congress’ August recess.
Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., is the latest to put a hold on the nomination of James Clapper to be President Obama's director of national intelligence, raising new doubts that the retired Air Force lieutenant general can be confirmed before the August recess.
The hold is apparently an attempt by Senate Republicans to pry more information out of the White House about classified intelligence programs, the Associated Press reported Wednesday.
A senior Senate staffer, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the AP that the senators are seeking information such as individual threat assessments on detainees being held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, who could be released.
Coburn's hold follows similar obstacles raised by Senate Armed Services Committee ranking member John McCain, R-Ariz., and Senate Intelligence Committee ranking member Kit Bond, R-Mo. Both dropped plans to block Clapper's nomination this week after the White House agreed to provide some classified information the two were seeking.