Washington—The Senate Intelligence Committee today voted 12-3 to advance to the full Senate the nomination of John Brennan to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency. The vote came one day after Committee Chairman Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) reached an agreement with the White House to provide legal opinions on the targeted killings of Americans.

Following the vote, Chairman Feinstein released the following statement:

“Today’s 12 to 3 bipartisan vote sends John Brennan’s nomination before the full Senate, and I hope the Senate acts quickly to confirm him.

“He draws on a deep well of experience—25 years as a CIA analyst, chief of station, manager, head of counterterrorism efforts and White House homeland security advisor. John was straightforward with the committee, answering all of our questions, and I believe he will be a candid partner at CIA and a strong leader of that critically important agency. No one is better prepared to be CIA director than Mr. Brennan. The CIA needs a confirmed director, and Majority Leader Reid is committed to moving quickly to schedule a vote.

“Two issues unrelated to John Brennan delayed this vote—additional details on the Benghazi attack and access to OLC opinions on targeted killings of American. I believe both of those issues have been addressed. The information I requested with Vice Chairman Chambliss on Benghazi has been or is being delivered, and just last night I reached an agreement with the White House to review all OLC opinions on targeted killings of Americans. It was unfortunate these issues delayed the process, but I am confident that they have been resolved.”

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