WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama on Monday will nominate Chuck Hagel as his next defence secretary and counterterrorism adviser John Brennan to lead the Central Intelligence Agency, two potentially controversial picks for his second-term national security team.
Hagel has faced tough criticism from congressional Republicans who say the former Republican senator is anti-Israel and soft on Iran. Brennan, a 25-year CIA veteran, withdrew from consideration for the spy agency’s top job in 2008 amid questions about his connection to criticized interrogation techniques during the George W. Bush administration.
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Administration officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Obama will announce both nominations at a White House event Monday afternoon.
The announcement is expected to occur at 1:05 p.m. ET. Watch live below:
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