Senate Republicans are trying to wring concessions out of the White House before agreeing to vote on President Barack Obama's nominee to become the nation's intelligence chief.
With the Senate about to go on its August break, retired Air Force Lt. Gen. James R. Clapper's nomination to be director of national intelligence hangs in the balance. Republican Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma has temporarily blocked the nomination, and other GOP lawmakers are threatening to join him.
One senior Senate staffer, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the negotiations, says the lawmakers want the White House to share classified material with them, such as individual threat assessments on Guantanamo detainees who could be released.
Clapper is currently the top Pentagon intelligence official.
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