CIA nominee tough on terror: Trump
washington — President Donald Trump on Monday defended Gina Haspel, his nominee to head the Central Intelligence Agency, dismissing debate over her involvement in a harsh interrogation programme and arguing Democrats want her out because she “is too tough on terror.”
Trump said on Twitter that Haspel has “come under fire because she was too tough on Terrorists.” He added 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. Win Gina!”
Haspel offered to withdraw her nomination, two senior administration
In these very dangerous times, we have the most qualified person, a woman, who Democrats want OUT because she is too tough on terror. Win Gina! Donald Trump officials said on Sunday, amid concerns that a debate over a harsh interrogation programme would tarnish her reputation and that of the CIA.
White House aides on Friday sought out additional details about Haspel’s involvement in the CIA’s now-defunct programme of detaining and brutally interrogating terror suspects after 9/11 as they prepared her for Wednesday’s confirmation hearing. This is when she offered to withdraw, the officials said.
They said Haspel, who is the acting director of the CIA, was reassured that her nomination was still on track and will not withdraw. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. The news was first reported Sunday by The Washington Post. Haspel, who would be the first woman to lead the CIA, is the first career operations officer to be nominated to lead the agency in decades. She served almost entirely undercover and much of her record is classified. Democrats say she should be disqualified because she was the chief of base at a covert detention site in Thailand where two terrorism suspects were subjected to waterboarding, a technique that simulates drowning.
She has told lawmakers in recent weeks that she would stand firm against any effort to restart the brutal detention and interrogation programme, administration officials said on Friday. She is expected to reiterate that publicly this week. —