It’s not looking good for Gina Haspel, President Trump’s nominee to be the director of Central Intelligence.
Unlike the administration’s arm twisting that got Secretary of State nominee Mike Pompeo, the former CIA director, through committee, there has been no campaign for Haspel, who faces confirmation hearings this month.
At least two Republican senators, Kentucky’s Rand Paul and Arizona’s John McCain, have balked at her nomination, citing her involvement in CIA interrogation tactics used in the early days of the Afghanistan War.
But unlike in its bid for Pompeo, the White House hasn’t put any pressure on those lawmakers to change their minds and help Haspel, the deputy CIA director, win in the face of a likely Democratic boycott.
“Zero outreach or pressure, hearing she might be in trouble,” an insider said.
White House officials assured that they will soon turn their attention to Haspel, noting that they have been distracted by their effort to win confirmations for 107 other top officials while dealing with the fallout from White House Physician Ronny Jackson’s failed bid to be secretary of Veterans Affairs.
