The President's choice to be the new CIA Director, John Brennan, goes before the Senate Intelligence Committee Thursday for his confirmation hearing. If approved, Brennan will replace Acting Director Michael Morell.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) stopped the hearing about 20 minutes in to clear the room after several outbursts from protesters seemed likely to delay the hearing. Members of the public wishing to return to the hearing had to be screened by Capitol Police.
Several Committee members ask Brennan “tough questions,” including questions on the use of American drones overseas and the administration's decision-making process for kill or capture missions. He also fields inquiries about the agency's budget, and about intelligence leaks in the administration.
Following this hearing, a second, classified hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.
Brennan, currently Obama’s counterterrorism adviser, is a 25-year veteran of the CIA and served both at the agency's headquarters and overseas, including a tour as station chief in Saudi Arabia. Pres. Obama nominated Brennan as the next CIA director on January 7, 2013.