Democratic Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo., has a "hold" -- a procedural tool to stall a nomination -- on the Obama administration's pick to be the Central Intelligence Agency's top lawyer, his office told NBC News Wednesday.
Caroline Krass, nominee to be CIA general counsel, told the Senate Intelligence Committee in December that she doesn't believe Congress should have access to the legal memos that govern CIA activities such as interrogation and drone strikes.
The hold is another data point in the suddenly explosive fight between the executive and legislative branches over the investigation into the CIA's use of enhanced interrogation techniques beginning during the President George W. Bush administration. And it's an example of a rift between Democrats in the Senate and President Obama's national security officials.
Krass's confirmation hearing in December, served as a forum for senators -- including Senate Intelligence Committee Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein -- to express concerns about the investigation and the trouble the committee has had in getting cooperation from the CIA.