Hagel’s thrilled face.
Photo: Chip Somodevilla/2013 Getty Images
Hagel was confirmed by the Senate this afternoon on a 58–41 vote, with four Republicans (Thad Cochran, Mike Johanns, Richard Shelby, and Rand Paul) joining 54 Democrats. (New Jersey’s Frank Lautenberg was home sick.) Paul ultimately voted for Hagel despite twice supporting a filibuster against him — but he has his reasons. “I voted no [initially] because I wanted more information and I think that part of what the Senate does is try to get information about the nominees,” Paul told reporters. However, BuzzFeed reports that Paul never even got the information he had sought, so we’re not sure it was the most effective protest.
