Hispanic Democrat tapped to head US House intelligence committee

[Ron Burgundy]

AFP - The Democratic leader-designate of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, announced her nomination of the first Hispanic to head the chamber's intelligence committee.

Pelosi picked Silvestre Reyes, an anti-Iraq-war Democratic congressman representing Texas, to chair the House intelligence committee when Congress reconvenes in January.

In nominating Reyes, Pelosi broke with the tradition of selecting the ranking Democrat when a political party takes control of a chamber, as the Democrats did for both the House and Senate in the November 7 elections.

Reyes has "impeccable national security credentials," Pelosi said in a statement.

"When tough questions are required, whether they relate to intelligence shortcomings before the 9/11 attacks or the war in Iraq, or to the quality of intelligence on Iran or North Korea, he does not hesitate to ask them," she said.

Reyes, 62, a former border guard, has served in Congress on the select intelligence, armed services and veterans' affairs committees.

The Vietnam War veteran, nicknamed "Silver," opposes the war in Iraq.

Pelosi has strained relations with the intelligence panel's current number two, Democrat Jane Harman, who said she was convinced of the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq before the US-led invasion in March 2003.

Harman issued a statement offering "sincere congratulations" to Reyes on his nomination and pledging her "full and enthusiastic support."

Reyes's nomination capped a delicate debate among the newly victorious but fractious Democratic Party.

Pelosi announced Tuesday that she would not name Alcee Hastings, a senior member of the House Intelligence Committee, to the post.

Hastings, an African-American, was strongly backed by a group of black lawmakers, but his reputation was marred by his impeachment as a federal judge 17 years ago.

His nomination could have cast doubt on the Democrats' campaign promise that they would end the Republicans' "culture of corruption" if elected.