Haspel courts Democratic votes
Trump: Some find CIA nominee ‘too tough’ on terrorists
WASHINGTON — CIA nominee Gina Haspel tried to convince skeptical Democrats on Monday that she’s the right person to lead the spy agency, just two days after she offered to step aside amid heavy criticism of her role in the agency’s brutal interrogation program at black sites overseas.
Haspel, who is acting CIA director, had told the White House she didn’t want to stay in contention if her bruising confirmation battle this week would jeopardize the agency. But she left no doubt on Monday that she’s in the fight to stay.
“Looking forward to Wednesday,” a smiling Haspel told reporters as she breezed into the office of Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.VA., referring to the upcoming hearing before the Senate intelligence committee.
President Donald Trump tweeted strong support, saying she was “tough on terror.”
“My highly respected nominee for CIA Director, Gina Haspel, has come under fire because she was too tough on Terrorists,” Trump tweeted.
“Think of that, in these very dangerous times, we have the most qualified person, a woman, who Democrats want OUT because she is too tough on terror.”
Haspel is facing opposition from some Democrats and many rights groups who are critical of her activities related to the shredding of 92 interrogation videotapes in 2005 and her stint as chief of base at a covert detention site in Thailand where two detainees were waterboarded, which simulates drowning.
The CIA on Monday delivered a set of classified documents to give senators a chance to review her record. The agency said the documents, which are not available to the public, cover the entirety of her career, including her time in the years after 9/11.
Using extreme interrogation techniques to pry information from detainees currently is against the law, but some lawmakers worry Trump will try to reinstate them and will get Haspel to go along. Trump has talked about toughening the U.S. approach to fighting extremists, including waterboarding and a “hell of a lot worse.”
In private meetings with senators, Haspel has vowed to stand firm against any effort to restart the harsh interrogations.
Without Sen. John Mccain of Arizona, who is battling brain cancer, the Republicans hold a 50-49 majority in the Senate. Nearly all Republicans except Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky are expected to vote for Haspel, but she would need at least one Democrat to be confirmed. Vice President Mike Pence, as president of the Senate, can be called on to break a tie vote.