More than 100 retired military officers sent a letter to the Senate Monday saying they are “deeply concerned” by the nomination of Gina Haspel to lead the CIA.
Their letter to the Senate Intelligence Committee calls for an examination of Haspel and any ties she may have had during her CIA career to harsh 9/11-era interrogation techniques that many consider torture. The committee has scheduled a May 9 hearing on her nomination.
“We urge you to examine closely the full extent of Ms. Haspel’s involvement in the rendition, detention, and interrogation program and, should you find that she played any role in carrying out, supervising, or directing the torture or abuse of people in U.S. custody, or the destruction of evidence relating to these activities, we urge you to reject her nomination,” the 108 retired offers wrote in the letter.
The concern could mean more difficulty for the Trump administration in getting Haspel, 61, confirmed to replace outgoing director Mike Pompeo following questions over her time running a secret CIA prison in Thailand.
A top al Qaeda suspect was subject to harsh interrogation techniques at the prison and allegations have been raised that Haspel may have advocated for the destruction of videotapes made of such sessions.
“We are deeply troubled by the prospect of someone who appears to have been intimately involved in torture being elevated to one of the most important positions of leadership in the intelligence community,” according to the joint letter to the Senate committee.
For now, the public record of Haspel’s role remains incomplete, but there are uncontested reports that Haspel ran the prison and that she may have overseen the CIA’s interrogation program, which was “rife with mismanagement and abuse,” they wrote.
