Three Senate Democrats called for CIA Director nominee, Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Kan., to be "thoroughly vetted, questioned and debated" amid Friday votes for President Donald Trump's Cabinet selections, The Hill reported.
"No CIA Director in history has ever been confirmed on Inauguration Day," Sens. Ron Wyden, Ore., Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said in a joint statement, per The Hill. "The importance of the position of CIA Director, especially in these dangerous times, demands that the nomination be thoroughly vetted, questioned and debated."
Sen. Wyden told The Hill the CIA post was too important to be rushed through before inaugural balls Friday evening.
"To rush it through like this, to have a debate with everybody going off to parties, I think makes my point," Wyden told reporters, per The Hill. "This is a substantial position. We haven't gotten answers to our questions."
The Washington Times had reported Thursday the Trump administration is considering an overhaul of the U.S. intelligence agencies, including the CIA.
The nominations of retired Gens. James Mattis, secretary of defense and John Kelly, Homeland Security, are expected to be voted on in the Senate on Friday, according to The Hill.
Pompeo's confirmation cannot be fully blocked without GOP opposition to him, but it takes just one senator to drag out the process – for days even – The Hill reported.
CIA Director John Brennan would likely be held in his post through the weekend, but Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, floated the suggestion the Senate stay in session through the weekend to confirm the nominations.
"I think we need to stop bad habits on the part of the Democrats," he told reporters, per The Hill. "There's things we can do and I think they need to feel some, you know, some pain."
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