On the recordSeptember 21, 2021
As the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, we have joint committee jurisdiction between the Intelligence and the Judiciary Committee in dealing with this nomination. This is an extraordinary individual. And I have to raise the most basic question, and that is: At this moment in history, is this the right moment to leave this spot vacant? To not have someone in leadership, a gentleman whom you have noted has bipartisan support for his intelligence credentials? You mentioned quite a few names of those supporting him. A couple of the names of those supporting him that you did not mention: former NSA Director, GEN Keith Alexander; former Director of National Intelligence, Mike McConnell; Senator Saxby Chambliss, our friend and former colleague who served on the Intelligence Committee as a vice chair--all in support of Mr. Olsen's nomination. And I would say, at this moment in history, without going into any graphic detail or classified information, but to have this kind of vacancy in this spot, do you believe this has an impact on our security as a nation?
