Obama defends choice of Panetta, who's mum

WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 (UPI) -- U.S. President-elect Barack Obama defended his reported nominee for CIA director, saying Leon Panetta was one of the "finest public servants we've had."

Meanwhile, the man stirring the controversy was silent about the speculated nomination.

Current and former U.S. intelligence officials, as well as Democratic congressional leaders have expressed skepticism and resentment over Obama's apparent decision to nominate the former White House chief of staff for President Bill Clinton to head the spy agency, The Washington Post reported Wednesday.

In Congress, Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee were ticked because they weren't consulted about Panetta's impending nomination and also questioned his intelligence experience. Vice President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. Tuesday acknowledged that the transition team erred in not consulting or notifying congressional leaders, and Obama called to apologize to committee Chairwoman Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and her predecessor, Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV, D-W.Va..

Obama defended Panetta during a news conference, stressing he still hasn't made a formal announcement about his intelligence team.

"I have the utmost respect for Leon Panetta," he said. "I think he is one of the finest public servants

that we've had. He brings extraordinary management skills, great political savvy, an impeccable record of integrity."

However, one senior official said that "the process was completely opaque" and that CIA wasn't consulted or told of Obama's choice.

Panetta, meanwhile, in his first public appearance since speculation about his nomination began, had little to say about the potential nod from Obama, the Santa Cruz (Calif.) Sentinel said.

Speaking to the Bay Area's Assessors Association Conference in Monterey, Calif., Tuesday, Panetta said he wasn't at liberty to discuss the potential nomination.

"If you want to know anything, I'll have to refer you to the president-elect," he said.