WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-Maine) today released the following statement on the President’s nomination of former Senator Chuck Hagel to become Secretary of Defense and White House Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Adviser John Brennan to become Director of the Central Intelligence Agency:

"I believe it would be inappropriate for me to comment at this point on the merits of either nomination, especially since I will be sitting on the two committees which will consider these particular appointments. With respect to presidential nominations in general, however, I believe that the President should have significant latitude in appointing members of his own cabinet and that executive branch candidates deserve the opportunity to have their qualifications fully and fairly evaluated,” said Senator King.

“Senator Hagel and Mr. Brennan both have distinguished records of public service, and as a member of the Armed Services Committee and the Select Committee on Intelligence, I look forward to thoroughly reviewing their records and hearing their respective testimonies during the confirmation process. I will make a decision on these nominations at the conclusion of the committee processes."

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