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


BRENDAN 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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