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U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon.

Updated, 3:56 p.m.: Senate Democrats have agreed to a vote on Pompeo's confirmation Monday, after an additional six hours of debate, according to news accounts of Senate negotiations Friday evening. CIA Director John Brenan and his deputy have officially vacated their posts, leaving a vacuum atop the nation's foreign intelligence agency.

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Moves by Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, and Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut have temporarily delayed a vote to confirm Rep. Mike Pompeo as director of the CIA.

The senators released a statement Friday saying they "oppose rushed confirmation" of Pompeo, a Kansas Republican.

Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Kansas, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for the director of the CIA, attends his confirmation hearing before the Senate (Select) Intelligence Committee on January 12, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

A confirmation vote was expected Friday evening, following the inauguration of President Donald Trump, according to news reports. But to have the vote, Senate Republicans would need unanimous consent from Democrats to bypass usual procedures. Wyden, Leahy and Blumenthal won't give the go-ahead, instead forcing more debate over Pompeo.

"The importance of the position of CIA Director, especially in these dangerous times, demands that the nomination be thoroughly vetted, questioned and debated," the senators said in a statement.

Pompeo endured tough questioning by Wyden during confirmation hearings. The Oregon Democrat at times heatedly quizzed Pompeo about his views on torture, personal privacy and collection of data on American citizens.

-- Gordon R. Friedman

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