CONFIRMING HEAD OF COUNTERINTELLIGENCE:

Voting 84 for and seven against, the Senate on May 6 confirmed William R. Evanina as director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center over criticism that he has been a reluctant supporter of whistleblower rights. The NCSC is the lead U.S. agency for safeguarding America against foreign intelligence penetrations. The vote keeps Evanina in a post he assumed in 2014 when Senate confirmation was not required. After joining the FBI as a special agent in 1996, he investigated organized crime and terrorist activities, and he was promoted in 2013 to head FBI-CIA joint counterintelligence operations.

In 2014, Evanina was tasked with putting into effect a new law prohibiting retaliation against whistleblowers in the intelligence community by revoking their security clearances. But Senate critics say that six years later, he has not yet completed that assignment.

Mark Warner, D-Va., called the confirmation essential at a time when the U.S. intelligence community has no Senateconfirmed appointees in its top ranks. He said “now more than ever, we need at least one career intelligence professional with a good record, confirmed by this Senate, standing guard over” spy and counter-spy operations.

Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said: “The fact is that Mr. Evanina has failed repeatedly the key test on protecting whistleblower rights. Specifically, he failed to enact whistleblower protections that the Congress required in 2014.A six-year track record of letting down whistleblowers and failing to follow the law.”

A yes vote was to confirm the nominee.

ARKANSAS

Voting yes: Tom Cotton, R, John Boozman, R

TEXAS

Voting yes: John Cornyn, R, Ted Cruz, R