 Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul staged the longest talking filibuster in recent Senate memory from Wednesday into early Thursday, railing with his colleagues for more than 12 hours against what they called the danger of drone strikes to U.S. citizens on American soil. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Harry Mason ReidWith lives at stake, Congress must start acting on health care GOP’s midterm strategy takes shape Battle of the billionaires drives Nevada contest MORE (D-Nev.) had hoped to have a confirmation vote for Brennan on Wednesday so that lawmakers could leave town and avoid travel delays from an expected snowstorm in the District. Text Size - 
 
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 reset Paul ends filibuster Obama's drone defense 
 
 Paul began speaking at 11:47 a.m. on Wednesday and finally yielded the floor at about 12:39 a.m. Thursday, having stayed inside the Senate chamber and on his feet for that entire time. Paul said he would have liked to have gone another 12 hours to break the record of former Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.), but Paul need to “take care of something you can’t put off in a filibuster,” referring to using the restroom. In seizing control of the Senate, a bloc of conservatives led by the libertarian Paul successfully pushed a potential vote to confirm President Barack Obama’s nominee to run the CIA off the day’s agenda. Paul and other senators had delayed a full Senate vote on Brennan's nomination until they received more information about the drone program. Republican Sens. McCain and Graham said they would oppose Brennan unless they got classified documents detailing the administration's actions immediately following the attack, the Associated Press reported. Congressional opposition to the drone program began in February, when leaked Justice Department documents claimed the CIA and the Department of Defense have the legal right to take out terror suspects via drone strikes, even if those suspects happen to be U.S. citizens. Paul said he wants Obama to define what standards would be used to justify a drone strike against an American on U.S. soil. But the executive branch of government, he said, should not be allowed to "conduct such a far-reaching policy without scrutiny." Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona told Paul “the question you’ve asked is totally right and proper.” And so on. (Photo: Video screen grab of Senate television via AP) Story Highlights Paul says concern over Brennan is not partisan 
 
 Reid said vote on Brennan could come Thursday 
 
 White House provided classified documents about drone strikes 
 
 WASHINGTON — John Brennan's nomination to lead the CIA was delayed Wednesday by a filibuster led by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., about concerns about the legality of drone strikes against U.S. citizens. Before Wednesday’s filibuster, several Senate Republicans anticipated a much smoother ride for Brennan’s confirmation, compared to the partisan battle to confirm Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel Charles (Chuck) Timothy HagelTrump’s bogus use of cyber threats to prop up coal GOP lambasts Trump over performance in Helsinki Overnight Defense: Latest on historic Korea summit | Trump says 'many people' interested in VA job | Pompeo thinks Trump likely to leave Iran deal MORE.
– It's possible the Senate will get a chance to confirm John Brennan as the next CIA chief tomorrow—unless Rand Paul's voice holds out. The Kentucky Republican began a genuine filibuster about 11:45am today, reports USA Today. That is, he's not taking advantage of the modern rule that allows him to just say he wants to filibuster—he's talking and talking and talking. "I will speak for as long as it takes," he said. "I will speak today until the president says, ‘No,’ he will not kill you at a cafe.'" The quote refers to White House policy on drone strikes against Americans on US soil. (Watch it live at CSPAN.org.) About three hours into the filibuster, Paul started getting support, reports the Hill. Republicans Mike Lee, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, and others helped him keep the filibuster moving, as did Democrat Ron Wyden. Harry Reid is powerless to end it until Paul yields the floor because Reid failed to file the appropriate paperwork beforehand, reports Politico. Yesterday, Paul released a letter from the attorney general stating that while it would be unlikely, it's conceivable that the US might order the killing of an American citizen here to prevent a terror attack.