Also, a reason to oppose Hagel for sure, if he doesn’t level with the public about potential foreign influence-buying, is to get rid of this quid pro quo stuff. As long as the politicians can buy “favors” (like treason, fraud, etc), they’ll keep doing it.
If it looks like something stinks, hold up the process until a full investigation is complete and the person has been cleared of wrong-doing. Anything less than that means DC will continue to remain a sewer that stinks up the whole country.
Suppose Hagel is rejected, Obama is free to nominate someone far worse, and the new nominee (a transgendered, 60’s SDS member and war protester) will sail right through because O can say “look those Republicans will oppose anybody I nominate..they hate me so much they wont even vote for a Republican I nominate.” The GOP will fold and the far worse candidate gets the job.
Actually I would not be surprised if this was not O’s plan all along...