WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I–Maine), a member of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, met with Chief Counterterrorism Advisor John O. Brennan, who is President Barack Obama’s nominee for Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.  Senator King was the first Member of Congress that Mr. Brennan visited before his confirmation hearings next week.

Following their half-hour meeting, Senator King released the following statement:

“I was pleased to have the opportunity to meet with Mr. Brennan this morning and appreciate him taking the time to sit down with me.  We had an open and frank discussion about America’s counterterrorism operations and agreed upon the need for the Director of the CIA to have a relationship of trust with the Senate Intelligence Committee, as we, along with our House counterpart, have the primary oversight responsibility for the Intelligence Community.  He was straightforward in his approach, which I appreciated.

“I look forward to his testimony before the Committee next Thursday and, as always, will reserve final judgment until those hearings conclude.”

###