Senate committee approves Trump intelligence nominee CoatsWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee voted overwhelmingly on Thursday in favor of President Donald Trump’s nominee to be director of national intelligence, former Republican Senator Dan Coats, sending his nomination to the Senate floor. The vote, which took place in a closed hearing, was 13-2, the committee said. Democratic Senators Ron Wyden and Kamala Harris were the only two members to vote no. Coats must still be confirmed by the full Senate to be the top U.S. intelligence official. The popular former lawmaker, who also served as ambassador to Germany, is expected to be confirmed easily. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence was created after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to oversee all 16 U.S. intelligence agencies and improve communications among them. Coats, 73, replaces James Clapper, who retired as President Barack Obama left office. Coats was a member of the Senate intelligence panel until he retired from the Senate at the end of last year. He pledged during his confirmation hearing on Feb. 28 to support a thorough investigation of any Russian effort to influence the 2016 presidential election. Wyden, one of the Senate’s leading privacy advocates, said he voted against his former colleague because he felt that the office of the Director of National Intelligence had not provided the committee with enough information about how many Americans’ communication records have been subjected to government surveillance. “Given that there has not been a firm commitment to deliver this critical information, I cannot support any DNI nominee without that material,” Wyden said in a statement. Harris said that after consideration of Coats’ record on a range of issues, she concluded she could not support his nomination. Senators Richard Burr, the committee’s Republican chairman, and Mark Warner, its top Democrat, both said they were pleased the committee had backed Coats. Warner said he was confident that Coats, as a former committee member, had respect for the panel’s oversight responsibilities. politicsNews
senate committee approves trump intelligence nominee coatswashington reuters the senate intelligence committee voted overwhelmingly thursday favor president donald trump nominee director national intelligence former republican senator dan coats sending nomination senate floor the vote took place closed hearing committee said democratic senators ron widen kamal harris two members vote coats must still confirmed full senate top intelligence official the popular former lawmaker also served ambassador germany expected confirmed easily the office director national intelligence created attacks oversee intelligence agencies improve communications among coats replaces james clipper retired president barack obama left office coats member senate intelligence panel retired senate end last year he pledged confirmation hearing support thorough investigation russian effort influence presidential election widen one senate leading privacy advocates said voted former colleague felt office director national intelligence provided committee enough information many americans communication records subjected government surveillance given firm commitment deliver critical information i support dni nominee without material widen said statement harris said consideration coats record range issues concluded could support nomination senators richard burn committee republican chairman mark warner top democrat said pleased committee backed coats warner said confident coats former committee member respect panel oversight responsibilities politicsnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Senate committee approves Trump intelligence nominee CoatsWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee voted overwhelmingly on Thursday in favor of President Donald Trump’s nominee to be director of national intelligence, former Republican Senator Dan Coats, sending his nomination to the Senate floor. The vote, which took place in a closed hearing, was 13-2, the committee said. Democratic Senators Ron Wyden and Kamala Harris were the only two members to vote no. Coats must still be confirmed by the full Senate to be the top U.S. intelligence official. The popular former lawmaker, who also served as ambassador to Germany, is expected to be confirmed easily. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence was created after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to oversee all 16 U.S. intelligence agencies and improve communications among them. Coats, 73, replaces James Clapper, who retired as President Barack Obama left office. Coats was a member of the Senate intelligence panel until he retired from the Senate at the end of last year. He pledged during his confirmation hearing on Feb. 28 to support a thorough investigation of any Russian effort to influence the 2016 presidential election. Wyden, one of the Senate’s leading privacy advocates, said he voted against his former colleague because he felt that the office of the Director of National Intelligence had not provided the committee with enough information about how many Americans’ communication records have been subjected to government surveillance. “Given that there has not been a firm commitment to deliver this critical information, I cannot support any DNI nominee without that material,” Wyden said in a statement. Harris said that after consideration of Coats’ record on a range of issues, she concluded she could not support his nomination. Senators Richard Burr, the committee’s Republican chairman, and Mark Warner, its top Democrat, both said they were pleased the committee had backed Coats. Warner said he was confident that Coats, as a former committee member, had respect for the panel’s oversight responsibilities. politicsNews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: senate committee approves trump intelligence nominee coatswashington reuters the senate intelligence committee voted overwhelmingly thursday favor president donald trump nominee director national intelligence former republican senator dan coats sending nomination senate floor the vote took place closed hearing committee said democratic senators ron widen kamal harris two members vote coats must still confirmed full senate top intelligence official the popular former lawmaker also served ambassador germany expected confirmed easily the office director national intelligence created attacks oversee intelligence agencies improve communications among coats replaces james clipper retired president barack obama left office coats member senate intelligence panel retired senate end last year he pledged confirmation hearing support thorough investigation russian effort influence presidential election widen one senate leading privacy advocates said voted former colleague felt office director national intelligence provided committee enough information many americans communication records subjected government surveillance given firm commitment deliver critical information i support dni nominee without material widen said statement harris said consideration coats record range issues concluded could support nomination senators richard burn committee republican chairman mark warner top democrat said pleased committee backed coats warner said confident coats former committee member respect panel oversight responsibilities politicsnews