Senate committee signs off on Jeh Johnson's nomination to head Homeland Security

Senate committee signs off on Jeh Johnson's nomination to head Homeland Security, but it's not over yet

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) intends to block a full Senate vote until Johnson hands over immigration enforcement statistics.

BY JOSEPH STRAW / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013, 2:48 AM

http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopo...5/59788386.jpgBRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/GETTY IMAGES

A Senate committe has signed off on Jeh Johnson's nomination to lead the Department of Homeland Security, but Sen. John McCain intends to block a full Senate vote.


WASHINGTON — A Senate committee signed off Wednesday on New York lawyer Jeh Johnson’s nomination to head the Department of Homeland Security — with a catch.

Panel member Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who skipped the meeting but voted “no” in absentia along with libertarian-leaning Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), plans to block a full Senate vote until Johnson promises him long-sought immigration enforcement data.

RELATED: HOMELAND SECURITY NOMINEE JEH JOHNSON: 'I AM A NEW YORKER'

Johnson told McCain he was “strongly inclined” to provide the data, but did not want to promise something he could not deliver as secretary.

Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) said DHS doubts the accuracy of its statistics — but added that the agency should furnish the data it has anyway.

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