WASHINGTON — In a gesture to his opponents, John Brennan yesterday swore to “preserve, protect and defend” the Constitution as the new CIA director.
Brennan chose an original draft copy of the Constitution with notations by George Washington — instead of the more common practice of swearing on a family bible — because he “wanted to reaffirm his commitment of the rule of law,” said White House spokesman Josh Earnest.
Brennan got confirmed after a nearly 13-hour filibuster by Tea Party favorite Sen. Rand Paul, who demanded promises that the administration wouldn’t use drone aircraft to attack US citizens on American soil.
Attorney General Eric Holder eventually satisfied him with a letter stating that the president doesn’t have authority “to use a weaponized drone to kill an American not engaged in combat” on US soil.