Gina Haspel will promise senators Wednesday that she would not reinstate an enhanced interrogation program if she’s confirmed to lead the CIA, amid ongoing complaints from Democrats that she oversaw programs in her prior work at the agency that involved torture.
“I understand that what many people around the country want to know about me are my views on CIA’s former detention and interrogation program,” excerpts of Haspel’s prepared remarks released by the CIA read, according to the Associated Press. “Having served in that tumultuous time, I can offer you my personal commitment, clearly and without reservation, that under my leadership, CIA will not restart such a detention and interrogation program.”
Most lawmakers who are hesitant to confirm Haspel are worried about her time running a detention site where terror suspects were interrogated using tactics such as waterboarding and physical violence. It is also expected that critics of Haspel will question why she wanted videos of the interrogation sessions destroyed.
Haspel also vows in her testimony to work with the Senate Oversight Committee, fight to put more intelligence officers in the field, and work to strengthen partnerships with U.S. allies. She also will comment on the support she has received for potentially becoming the first female CIA director.
“It is not my way to trumpet the fact that I am a woman up for the top job, but I would be remiss in not remarking on it — not least because of the outpouring of support from young women at CIA who consider it a good sign for their own prospects,” Haspel says.
While Democrats are wary of Haspel, most Republicans, like Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., are rallying around her. He echoed President Trump’s support for Haspel by saying senators should support Haspel for being “tough on terrorists.”
.@SenTomCotton: “If Gina Haspel being tough on terrorists is the worst thing the Democrats have on her, than that’s not much of a case against her.” @foxandfriends pic.twitter.com/24fi4pn2gJ
— Fox News (@FoxNews) May 9, 2018
