WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 (UPI) -- An anonymous U.S. senator has placed a hold on President Bush’s nominee to serve as the No. 2 man to the nation’s spy chief.
Donald Kerr, the current head of the National Reconnaissance Office, the U.S. agency that designs and builds spy satellites, was nominated in July to fill the post of principal deputy to Director of National Intelligence Michael McConnell.
The post has been empty since last May, when Deputy Gen. Michael Hayden left to take over as CIA director.
Kerr took flak from members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence during his confirmation hearing for his management of some satellite construction programs at the NRO. But last month the committee approved his nomination 12-3, and he should have had a floor vote last week.
Congressional Quarterly reported Friday that an anonymous hold had been placed on his nomination.
A spokeswoman for McConnell said she had no information about the delay.
“We’re waiting for it to move,” Vanee Vines told United Press International of the nomination. “We’re anxious it does so as soon as possible."
