On the recordJanuary 20, 2017
Mr. President, I would like to respond to the statement of the Senator from Oregon. As chairman of the Intelligence Committee, let me just tell Members that Congressman Pompeo has made himself available to every Member on the Committee for private meetings in their office. For everyone who would take a meeting, he met with them. He came before the committee in open session and in closed session. In open session, he stayed for as long as Members had questions, and all questions were answered. Congressman Pompeo received from the committee over 150--may have been over 200--questions for the record. Today all questions are answered. I can't address whether there was ever a CIA Director who was confirmed on inauguration day, but I can't think of a time where the country has been more challenged with threats around the world and at home than we are right now. We carried out military acts last night and the night before. We have just gotten through with one of the highest security events in the history of this country in Washington, DC. Why aren't we taking up Representative Pompeo today? It is not because there is disagreement, it is not because we haven't had an opportunity to ask enough questions or talk to him face-to-face and get answers. It is because some people don't want to vote on it today. They want to wait until Monday. I am willing to debate this as long as it needs to be debated.…





