Sen. John McCain, (R-Ariz.), a leading critic of the Obama administration’s nominee for U.S. Secretary of Defense, said on nominee Chuck Hagel will likely see a vote on nomination this week.
“I think it will happen, barring some additional revelation concerning his comments on Israel and all those other really unfortunate things he’s said in the past,” McCain said on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday, reported by The Hill.
The former Nebraska senator’s confirmation was in limbo over the weeklong President’s Day recess when a group of Republican law makers filibustered the nomination over issues related to the Sept. 11, 2012 attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya and statements Hagel made related to Israel.
Hagel is likely to be confirmed by the Democrat-controlled Senate.
However, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) said on ‘”Fox News Sunday” there were enough ‘no’ votes in the Senate for the Hagel nomination to damage his credibility in Congress.
“You’re going to have 40 votes against [Hagel], or 35 votes,” Cobrun said on Sunday.
“That sends a signal to our allies as well as our foes that he does not have broad support in the U.S. Congress, which limits his ability to carry out his job.”
On the same program, Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) defended Hagel’s qualifications.
“I think it’s despicable the way his character has been impugned by other people,” McCaskill said. “I think it’s time for us to come together and unite behind him so he can do the best job possible.”
