Senate confirms Medine to Privacy, Civil Liberties Oversight Board

The Senate confirmed a nominee from President Obama on Tuesday to serve on the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board.

In a 53-45 vote, David Medine was confirmed to serve as chairman of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board. The vote split down party lines, with Democrats supporting Medine and Republicans opposing his nomination. Sens. John Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) and Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) missed the vote.

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said he opposed Medine’s nomination because he wasn’t forthcoming with answers during his confirmation hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Grassley said he asked Medine questions about his views on the Patriot Act and military force against terrorism but that Medine gave evasive answers.

{mosads}“Unfortunately, the responses I received failed to provide his views,” Grassley said ahead of the vote on Tuesday. “Very simply, when people are called to testify before Congress they should provide their views.”

Grassley said he didn’t trust that Medine could make the right decisions on “critical national security laws” that the board oversees. Grassley pointed out the Medine received a party-line vote in the Judiciary Committee, where Grassley serves as the ranking member.

“I fear that a nomination that is as polarizing as this could cloud the judgment of the board,” Grassley said.