Blackout halts Pompeo confirmation hearing

Blackout halts Pompeo confirmation hearing

The Thursday morning confirmation hearing for Donald Trump’s pick to lead the CIA got off to a dim start.

During his opening remarks, Senate Intelligence Committee ranking member Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) began speaking about the intelligence community’s formal assessment that Russia attempted to interfere in the U.S. election.

CLIP: Power at Senate #CIA confirmation hearing goes out right after Sen. @MarkWarner mentions #Russia. pic.twitter.com/kVnr51lLwl

— Jeremy Art (@cspanJeremy) January 12, 2017

Abruptly, the lights went out in the Hart hearing room, plunging it into darkness.

Warner continued his remarks — without a microphone — as lawmakers, reporters, protesters and the candidate himself, Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.), sat in darkness.

Chairman Richard Burr (R-N.C.) called a recess shortly after. Former Sen. Bob Dole, present to speak about Pompeo, sat surrounded by lawmakers and press as other senators milled around the well of the hearing room.

Here's Bob Dole, sitting in the dark, while everyone else mills around. #PompeoHearing pic.twitter.com/07rqCTzSUj

— Katie Bo Williams (@KatieBoWill) January 12, 2017