CIA’s Brennan identifies with hostages By Al Kamen CIA Director John Brennan testifies at a Senate intelligence committee hearing Tuesday. (Kevin Lamarque - Reuters) Senators on both sides are still upset over the bitter jousting with the Obama administration over sensitive intelligence and legal documents regarding drone strikes. The nomination of now-confirmed CIA Director John Brennan was held up during the impasse. Feelings were still raw at a Senate intelligence committee hearing Tuesday. Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D- W.Va.) complained that “there was a minder who was sent in” the room where he was finally able to read the documents. “That was an insult to me and I kicked the person out,” he said. But trust between the intelligence community and the Hill had been eroded, he said. Asked about this, Brennan demurred, likening his situation during the documents fight to that of a hostage. “Senator, like most hostages,” Brennan said, “I was excluded from the ransom negotiations during my confirmation process.” By Al Kamen | 08:00 AM ET, 03/13/2013 Tags: John Brennan, CIA, drone strikes, Senate, Intelligence, Jay Rockefeller, hostages, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

CIA’s Brennan identifies with hostages

By Al Kamen

CIA Director John Brennan testifies at a Senate intelligence committee hearing Tuesday. (Kevin Lamarque - Reuters) Senators on both sides are still upset over the bitter jousting with the Obama administration over sensitive intelligence and legal documents regarding drone strikes.
The nomination of now-confirmed CIA Director John Brennan was held up during the impasse.
Feelings were still raw at a Senate intelligence committee hearing Tuesday. Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D- W.Va.) complained that “there was a minder who was sent in” the room where he was finally able to read the documents.
“That was an insult to me and I kicked the person out,” he said. But trust between the intelligence community and the Hill had been eroded, he said.
Asked about this, Brennan demurred, likening his situation during the documents fight to that of a hostage.
“Senator, like most hostages,” Brennan said, “I was excluded from the ransom negotiations during my confirmation process.”

By Al Kamen  |  08:00 AM ET, 03/13/2013

Tags:  John Brennan, CIA, drone strikes, Senate, Intelligence, Jay Rockefeller, hostages, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop