CIA nominee promises not to allow torture techniques
She says U.S. moved to ‘higher moral standards’
WASHINGTON – Gina Haspel promised senators Wednesday that the CIA would not revive its outlawed interrogation techniques if she was confirmed as the agency’s first female director.
“I understand that what many people around the country want to know about are my views on CIA’s former detention and interrogation program,” Haspel told the Senate Intelligence Committee at her confirmation hearing. “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.”
Haspel said she would not resume the program, even if President Trump asked her to do so. Trump has said that he believes “torture works” and would consider reviving its use.
Intelligence Committee members focused much of their questioning on Haspel’s oversight in 2002 of a secret “black site” in Thailand where suspected terrorists were subjected to waterboarding and confined in coffin-shaped boxes for hours during President George W. Bush’s administration.
Haspel defended the agency’s actions, saying the use of “enhanced interrogation techniques” was deemed legal at the time by the Department of Justice and President Bush. She said she supports the “higher moral standards” that the country has since adopted that ban torture.
“I would not put CIA officers at risk by asking them to undertake risky, controversial behavior again,” she said.
Haspel, who spent more than 30 years as a covert agent before becoming the CIA’s deputy director last year, faced questions about her involvement in the destruction of 92 videotapes that showed a prisoner being waterboarded. Waterboarding is a technique that simulates the experience of drowning.
She said she wrote the order in 2005 to destroy the tapes at the request of her boss, Jose Rodriguez, who was head of the CIA’s clandestine service. Rodriguez issued the order without informing CIA Director Porter Goss ahead of time, Haspel said.
Haspel said she supported the destruction of the tapes because she feared someone would release them publicly and jeopardize the safety of CIA officers seen on the tapes.
“We were worried about an irresponsible leak of our officers’ faces to the world,” she said. She said the CIA director should have been informed of the order before it went out.
It’s not clear whether Haspel’s promises will convince a majority of senators to confirm her. The Intelligence Committee could vote as early as this month on whether to recommend her confirmation to the full Senate.
“I would not put CIA officers at risk by asking them to undertake risky, controversial behavior again.” Gina Haspel Nominated to be first woman to lead CIA
Republicans hold a 51-49 majority in the Senate, and Sen. Rand Paul, RKy., vowed to oppose Haspel because of her role in the interrogation program. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., has brain cancer and may not be available to vote. No Democrats have announced support for Haspel.
Vice Chairman Mark Warner, DVa., said he was glad Haspel expressed support for the ban on torture but said, “No one should get credit simply for agreeing to follow the law.”