[JURIST] The full US Senate has approved the nomination of Air Force General Michael Hayden [official profile] to head the Central Intelligence Agency [official website] by a vote of 78-15 [roll call]. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter (R-PA) was notably one of the senators opposed. The nomination went to the Senate floor Thursday after the Senate Intelligence Committee approved it 12-3 [JURIST report].

During Intelligence Committee hearings last week, Hayden – a former director of the National Security Agency (NSA) – stressed [JURIST report] the legality and importance of the NSA's warrantless domestic surveillance program [JURIST news archive]. He refused, however, to answer questions about agency phone records collection.