Obama, Biden apologise to Feinstein over Panetta snub

Washington, Jan.7 (ANI): U.S. President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden have apologized to Diane Feinstein, the head of the Senate Intelligence Committee, for not consulting her about the nomination of Leon Panetta to head the CIA.

According toa Fox News report, Obama and Biden called Feinstein a day after her spokesman said the California senator did not receive a phone call about Panetta from anyone in the Obama camp and learned about the decision to nominate him from news reports.

Feinstein's committee would be in charge of holding Panetta's confirmation hearing.

"I have been contacted by both President-elect Obama and Vice President-elect Biden, and they have explained to me the reasons why they believe Leon Panetta is the best candidate for CIA director," she said in a written statement.

"I look forward to speaking with Panetta about the critical issues facing the intelligence community and his plans to address them," she added.

Feinstein told Roll Call, a newspaper on Capitol Hill, that Obama and Biden "apologized profusely" for not calling her and that she has no hard feelings.

"I've been around a long time I know this happens," she said.

Biden, who previously served as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Tuesday called it a "mistake" to exclude Feinstein in discussions on a CIA pick. (ANI)