Chuck Schumer Endorses Chuck Hagel Nomination After Meeting at White House

Hopes "lingering controversy" will be removed now

Sen. Chuck Schumer is giving his backing to President Barack Obama's choice to be defense secretary, former Sen. Chuck Hagel—a nominee who raised red flags with strong supporters of Israel such as the New York Democrat.

"When Senator Hagel's name first surfaced as a potential nominee for Secretary of Defense, I had genuine concerns over certain aspects of his record on Israel and Iran," Schumer said in a statement Tuesday, a day after meeting with Hagel for an hour and a half at the White House in a private session to hash out Schumer's concerns.