Air Force Lt. General Dan "Razin" Caine is President Donald Trump's nominee to be the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. (U.S. Air Force)
"Because of your extraordinary service, general, I can't imagine anyone better qualified to answer this question," Blumenthal said to Caine. "Knowing what you do, about the substance of that conversation, how would you feel?"
"I think we all can agree that we need to always protect the element of surprise, and that element of surprise was very likely lost," Caine responded.
Hirono questioned Caine with a similar hypothetical but went a step further and asked if he would "just let this matter drop," as she claimed the Trump administration is doing.
"It's really not a hypothetical. It is what is confronting this administration," Hirono said.
"Given the fact that the chairman and ranking member have asked for an investigation, I don't want to comment on the particulars," Caine relented as Hirono hounded for an answer. "I do want to stay at the strategic altitude and say that we should always preserve the element of surprise."
TRUMP NOMINATES AIR FORCE LT. GEN. DAN 'RAZIN' CAINE FOR JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF CHAIRMAN
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) is a highly coveted position among senior military officers, with the members of the JCS advising the secretary of defense and president on strategic military matters. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
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The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) is a group of senior military officials who advise the president, the Secretary of Defense and the National Security Council on military matters. The JCS consists of the highest-ranking officers from the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and National Guard, with the chairman serving as the highest principal military advisor.
The chairman is typically required to have served as a four-star general in charge of a military service branch or as a combatant commander, qualifications Caine does not possess. However, the president has the authority to waive these requirements if deemed necessary for national interests.
Caine's extensive Air Force military background includes serving as a decorated F-16 combat pilot and playing critical roles in special intelligence operations. Given the slim Republican majority, his full Senate confirmation would require near-unanimous support from Republican senators.
Jamie Joseph is a U.S. Politics reporter for Fox News Digital covering transgender and culture issues, the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services, and stateside legislative developments.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-pick-joint-chiefs-chair-tells-senate-element-surprise-likely-lost-amid-signal-chat-leak