The chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee said Tuesday that he would be disappointed if Democrats raised fresh objections to the nomination of Gina Haspel as CIA director.
“I hope not,” North Carolina senator Richard Burr said when asked if Democrats would object. “She’s eminently qualified, and I think she’s answered most of those questions, at least for the Democrats on the committee.”
Trump announced Tuesday that he would be nominating CIA director Mike Pompeo to be his secretary of state, and Haspel, who is currently serving as deputy director at CIA, to be his CIA director. Haspel would be the first woman to fill the position and has been at the agency since 1985.
“I would be disappointed if they [raised objections] because I’m not sure they’ll find anybody as qualified to take that role,” Burr said.
Trump’s announcement revived controversy surrounding Haspel’s involvement in CIA detention and interrogation programs. The Washington Post reported that Haspel oversaw a “black site” in Thailand after the 9/11 attacks at which al-Qaeda suspects were subject to waterboarding. Later, according to accounts in both the Post and the New York Times, she supported the destruction of videotapes depicting waterboarding, as ordered by her then-boss, Jose Rodriguez.
While some members raised concerns about the nomination, leading Democrats on the Senate’s intelligence panel gave an even-keeled response.
The committee’s top Democrat, Mark Warner, told reporters that he has had a “very good working relationship” with Haspel. But, he said, members rightfully “have a lot of questions” that need to be answered.
“There were a number of questions we raised before she became the deputy director, and there will be, I’m sure, a robust confirmation process,” Warner told reporters.
California Democrat Dianne Feinstein, who led the charge on a 2014 congressional report about the CIA’s enhanced interrogation techniques, told reporters Tuesday that she would hold off on deciding her vote until Haspel’s confirmation hearing.
“It’s no secret I’ve had concerns in the past with her connection to the CIA torture program and have spent time with her discussing this,” Feinstein said in a statement. “To the best of my knowledge she has been a good deputy director and I look forward to the opportunity to speak with her again.”
Others expressed greater worry. Senator Angus King said he had concerns about the nomination but wanted to meet and speak to Haspel again.
“I do have some concerns because of her involvement back early in the 2000s in the extraordinary rendition and detention program,” he told reporters.
Oregon Democrat Ron Wyden said he opposed Haspel’s nomination and demanded “total transparency” about her background.
“This information about her involvement should be declassified. In effect it has been a cover-up,” Wyden told reporters. “Both the program, and because public officials have been commenting about her role in this, I believe that it is possible to declassify the information about her without compromising sources and methods.”
Asked Tuesday about efforts to declassify Haspel’s records, Warner said, “the more transparency the better.”
But the truly meaningful opposition to Haspel’s nomination would come from Republican quarters. With a close 51 to 49 margin in the Senate, Republicans can only afford to lose two lawmakers.
Arizona senator John McCain said Tuesday that Haspel must answer to her involvement with enhanced interrogation techniques.
“The torture of detainees in U.S. custody during the last decade was one of the darkest chapters in American history,” he said in a statement. “Ms. Haspel needs to explain the nature and extent of her involvement in the CIA’s interrogation program during the confirmation process.”
Libertarian-leaning Republican Rand Paul will also be making an announcement on the matter Wednesday.
