Panel Vote on Chuck Hagel’s Confirmation Hasn’t Been Rescheduled
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SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — Whatever happened to Chuck Hagel’s nomination to become the next secretary of defense?
Following a contentious hearing last week in which Republicans on the Senate Armed Services Committee raised serious concerns about President Obama’s pick to head the Pentagon, a vote was scheduled by the panel Wednesday to determine if the nomination would advance to the full Senate.
However, GOP questions about fees Hagel collected for speeches and other matters forced Democratic Committee Chairman Carl Levin to postpone the vote.
Still, Levin said on Thursday that the nomination remains on track while declining to comment on whether his panel will decide on Hagel’s future in the coming days. The Senate then takes a week off starting Feb. 17.
Despite the apparent confusion, the Democratically-controlled panel will likely vote in favor of Hagel’s nomination and with a majority in the Senate, Hagel’s confirmation is also assured, Levin predicted.
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