WASHINGTON, Dec 2 (Reuters) - U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders said on Wednesday that he was placing a hold on Ben Bernanke’s nomination for a second term as Federal Reserve chairman, a move that could slow the confirmation process.

If the hold is not withdrawn, the move by Sanders, an independent from Vermont, means that Senate leaders will not be able to bring up the nomination for a vote by unanimous consent. Instead, they may need to garner 60 votes in order to consider the nomination. (Reporting by Tim Ahmann; Editing by Leslie Adler) ((tim.ahmann@thomsonreuters.com; +1 202 898 8370; Reuters Messaging: tim.ahmann.reuters.com@reuters.net))