Kirk Concern on Intel Pick

President Obama's nominee for head of its National Intelligence Council has some issues. TWS Blog:

I just spoke to Rep. Mark Kirk, who along with Rep. Steve Israel has requested another investigation into Charles Freeman's finances -- this time focusing on his role as a member of the advisory board of the Chinese state-owned oil company CNOOC. Asked if Freeman's appointment will stand, Kirk replied "I hope not." He suggested that the White House should "suspend him pending a real review." Still, Kirk says he has "great faith" in the Inspector General to handle this matter promptly and appropriately.

Most troubling, Kirk says, is the "lack of disclosure by Ambassador Freeman and the lack of review by the administration." Given that this is "one of the most important positions in the intelligence community," Kirk said he "would have expected a comprehensive review" by administration officials prior to making the appointment. Per Eli Lake's piece today in the Washington Times, we now know that the administration did no vetting at all of this pick, and worse was not even aware that it had been made until after Dennis Blair had offered Freeman the job. "They skipped all of those steps," Kirk says.

Unbelievable. Not known yet is whether Freeman has paid his taxes. I'm not kidding.