Senate panel approves Hagel’s defense bid

Washington, United States (4E) – The United States Senate panel on Tuesday approved Chuck Hagel’s defense bid as it voted 14 to 11 to nominate him as country’s next Defense Secretary.

The Senate Armed Services Committee’s vote came after a lengthy meeting to approve President Barack Obama’s choice to replace retiring Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.

The panel’s vote saw Democrats’ support to Hagel as next Pentagon chief and continued opposition from the Republicans.

The Senate will now vote on Hagel’s nomination later this week.

The vote came days after Republican Senator Lindsay Graham threatened to put a ‘hold’ on Obama’s picks of Chuck Hagel and John Brennan.

The Republican lawmaker asked Obama administration to explain the actions the president took after the 9/11 attack on U.S. consulate in Libyan city of Benghazi.

Earlier this week, the White House had warned that the Republican is putting the country’s national security at stake by blocking the nominations.

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