WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday approved the nomination of White House counterterrorism adviser John Brennan to become CIA director by a large, bi-partisan majority.
Senator Dianne Feinstein, the committee's chairwoman, said that the 12-3 committee vote now sends the nomination to the full Senate for a floor vote. "I hope the Senate acts quickly to confirm him," Feinstein said.
However, it was unclear how rapidly the Senate would move to a final floor vote on Brennan. A congressional aide said that a vote this week could be made difficult by an anticipated major snowstorm in Washington on Wednesday.
Republican senators also may try to delay a floor vote to pressure the White House to release more information on its response to the attacks last September 11 on U.S. outposts in Benghazi, Libya.
(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle and Mark Hosenball; Editing by Sandra Maler)
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