Sen. Corker raises issue of Hagel's 'temperament'

January 13, 2013 RSS Feed Print

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Republican senator says he thinks the issue of "overall temperament" will come up during former Sen. Chuck Hagel's confirmation hearing to be defense secretary.

Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker says the issue is whether Hagel is "suited" to run a big government department such as the Pentagon.

Corker isn't saying that he has questions about Hagel, a former Republican senator from Nebraska.

Corker tells ABC's "This Week" that he thinks there are "numbers of staffers who are coming forth now just talking about the way he has dealt with them."

While Corker says he begins the confirmation process "with an open mind," he says that senators will be listening closely to what Hagel has to say on all matters, including Israel and Iran.