Committee unanimously approves Clapper nomination

Posted By Josh Rogin Thursday, July 29, 2010 - 3:12 PM Share

The Senate Intelligence Committee approved the nomination of James Clapper to be the next director of national intelligence by a unanimous 15-0 vote Thursday afternoon.

Committee ranking Republican Kit Bond, R-MO, who was one of the senators who had lingering concerns about Clapper, expressed guarded optimism after yesterday's follow up hearing that Clapper will be the strong type of DNI that Congress is advocating.

"General Clapper has served our nation honorably for 46 years and I admire him, he has assured me that he does not intend to be a hood ornament but judging from recent history my yea vote is really a triumph of hope over experience," Bond said.

No full Senate vote on the nomination has yet been scheduled.