Gina Haspel Hearing: 9/11 ‘Mastermind’ Asks to Share Information

The self-proclaimed mastermind of the 9/11 attacks has asked for permission to share information about Gina Haspel, nominee for CIA director, at her confirmation hearing, BBC reported on Wednesday.

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who is held at Guantanamo Bay, has asked a judge if he can share six paragraphs of information, the New York Times says.

Mr Mohammed was tortured by the CIA following his capture in 2003.

Ms Haspel is facing a grilling from senators at the hearing.

Her nomination has faced opposition due to her role at a secret CIA prison in Thailand where detainees were waterboarded in 2002.

Ms Haspel told the Senate intelligence committee that under her leadership the agency would not restart a secret detention and interrogation programme under which suspects were tortured.

She told committee members that, in retrospect, “it is clear... that CIA was not prepared to conduct a detention and interrogation programme”.

“Having served in that tumultuous time, I can offer you my personal commitment, clearly and without reservation, that under my leadership the CIA will not restart such a detention and interrogation programme,” she added.

Ms Haspel declined to confirm whether she had overseen waterboarding sessions. She told the committee she supported the CIA’s decision to destroy videotapes of the interrogations, saying it was to protect the identities of agents.

The hearing was briefly interrupted by a protester who was escorted out by police.