"What is unfortunate here is the continuing attempt to politicize an issue, in this case through nominees that themselves had nothing to do with Benghazi, and to do so in a way that only does harm to our national security interests," Carney said. "Senator Hagel, Mr. Brennan, they need to be confirmed."
All 55 Democrats are expected to back Hagel and two Republicans — Sens. Thad Cochran of Mississippi and Mike Johanns of Nebraska — have said they will vote for the nominee. At least five Republicans have said they would oppose a filibuster of the president's Cabinet pick, ensuring that the Hagel nomination has at least 60 votes to move forward.
In a letter on Friday, Levin rejected Republican demands for additional financial information as beyond the scope for nominees, Republican or Democrat.
"The committee cannot have two different sets of financial disclosure standards for nominees, one for Sen. Hagel and one for other nominees," the Michigan Democrat wrote.
His letter was in response to a letter from 26 Senate Republicans to Hagel insisting that they needed more information before they could vote on his nomination. Among those signing the GOP letter were Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Inhofe.
Republicans have asked Hagel to disclose all compensation of more than $5,000 from the past five years — three years more than the law or committee rules require. The Republican senators also want Hagel to disclose whether any of the eight organizations and businesses he was affiliated with after leaving the Senate received money from foreign sources.
But Hagel has already told the committee that neither he nor his wife has received during the last 10 years any compensation from, or been involved in any business transactions with, a foreign government or an entity controlled by a foreign government, Levin wrote.
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