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On Monday, Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.) was confirmed by the Senate to be the CIA director, but the perceived delay in the vote by the body's Democratic leader led to a tense confrontation on the floor the night it was originally going to take place.
A behind-the-scenes struggle in the Senate to get Pompeo confirmed in short order came into the public eye on Friday evening, Ed Henry reported Monday.
A number of Republicans said Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) effectively lied to them when he promised to add Pompeo's name to a list of key national security team members up for a vote last Friday, Henry said.
However, on Thursday, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) called for a delay in that vote, but Republicans demanded that Schumer keep his word and allow Pompeo to be confirmed Friday.
The Inauguration Day vote never materialized and Sen.Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) confronted Schumer on the Senate floor that day over the delay.