Hagel Confirmed as Secretary of Defense

More than a week after the first attempt at confirming his nomination was blocked, former Sen. Chuck Hagel has been confirmed as the next Secretary of Defense.

FOX News Radio’s Jared Halpern reports from Washington:

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A few hours after a Republican filibuster was broken, former Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel earned enough votes to be confirmed Secretary of Defense. Hagel now the first enlisted veteran to lead the Pentagon – he was awarded the Purple Heart in Vietnam.

GOP critics complain Hagel has opposed Iranian sanctions and question comments he made about Israel’s influence in Congress.

The President’s choice for Treasury Secretary, White House Chief of Staff Jack Lew, also clearing a key hurdle, winning committee approval.

In Washington, Jared Halpern, FOX News Radio.

LISTEN to the final vote tally, read on the Senate floor by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA):

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