The Senate has approved the nomination of John Brennan to head the CIA, ending a prolonged confirmation process that lagged over the Obama administration’s targeted assassination program. Brennan was confirmed with a 62-to-34 vote. Dubbed by critics President Obama’s “assassination czar,” Brennan has overseen U.S. targeted killings overseas. A vote on his bid was delayed several times over the administration’s refusal to release Justice Department memos explaining the drone program’s legal basis. Democratic Senators Patrick Leahy and Jeff Merkley and Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders broke with the Democratic caucus to vote against Brennan’s nomination.