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| Gina Haspel Testifies at Confirmation Hearing to Lead the C.I.A. | Gina Haspel Testifies at Confirmation Hearing to Lead the C.I.A. |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| • Gina Haspel, President Trump’s nominee to lead the Central Intelligence Agency, is testifying before the Senate Intelligence Committee at her confirmation hearing. | • Gina Haspel, President Trump’s nominee to lead the Central Intelligence Agency, is testifying before the Senate Intelligence Committee at her confirmation hearing. |
| • Senators want to know more about her decades as a spy, particularly her oversight of the torture of a suspected Qaeda member at a secret prison in Thailand and her strong advocacy for destroying videotapes that documented brutal interrogations of terrorism suspects. | • Senators want to know more about her decades as a spy, particularly her oversight of the torture of a suspected Qaeda member at a secret prison in Thailand and her strong advocacy for destroying videotapes that documented brutal interrogations of terrorism suspects. |
| • Ms. Haspel said she would not allow such a program to be started again. | |
| • The Trump administration is conveying confidence that Ms. Haspel, who would be the first woman to run the agency, will be confirmed. | • The Trump administration is conveying confidence that Ms. Haspel, who would be the first woman to run the agency, will be confirmed. |
| Senator Richard Burr of North Carolina, the Republican chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, opened the hearing with a shot across the bow of Democratic colleagues who have signaled that they plan to focus on Ms. Haspel’s role in the Bush administration’s rendition, detention and interrogation program. | Senator Richard Burr of North Carolina, the Republican chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, opened the hearing with a shot across the bow of Democratic colleagues who have signaled that they plan to focus on Ms. Haspel’s role in the Bush administration’s rendition, detention and interrogation program. |
| The brutal methods employed by the agency, including waterboarding, are now banned by law, and Mr. Burr made clear that he did not want the hearing to be a setting to debate issues he believes are settled. | The brutal methods employed by the agency, including waterboarding, are now banned by law, and Mr. Burr made clear that he did not want the hearing to be a setting to debate issues he believes are settled. |
| “Some may seek to turn this hearing into a trial about a long-shuttered program,” Mr. Burr said. “This hearing is not about programs already addressed by executive order, legislation, and the court of law. It’s about the woman seated in front of us.” | “Some may seek to turn this hearing into a trial about a long-shuttered program,” Mr. Burr said. “This hearing is not about programs already addressed by executive order, legislation, and the court of law. It’s about the woman seated in front of us.” |
| He said those who wanted to debate the brutal interrogation program should take it up with past presidents, C.I.A. directors and attorneys general. The hearing, he said to Ms. Haspel, is about “how you will lead the Central Intelligence Agency in the future, not how you faithfully executed missions in the past.” | He said those who wanted to debate the brutal interrogation program should take it up with past presidents, C.I.A. directors and attorneys general. The hearing, he said to Ms. Haspel, is about “how you will lead the Central Intelligence Agency in the future, not how you faithfully executed missions in the past.” |
| Mr. Burr echoed then-President Elect Barack Obama’s famous statement in early 2009 that on matters of detainee abuses, “We need to look forward as opposed to looking backwards.” Mr. Obama wanted to take steps to ensure that the government did not torture people in the future — like restricting C.I.A. interrogators to the methods allowed in the Army Field Manual — rather than getting bogged down in recriminations and investigations. | Mr. Burr echoed then-President Elect Barack Obama’s famous statement in early 2009 that on matters of detainee abuses, “We need to look forward as opposed to looking backwards.” Mr. Obama wanted to take steps to ensure that the government did not torture people in the future — like restricting C.I.A. interrogators to the methods allowed in the Army Field Manual — rather than getting bogged down in recriminations and investigations. |
| Democrats have indicated that they are willing to get behind Ms. Haspel’s nomination, but not without extracting serious and unequivocal commitments from her. Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, the panel’s top Democrat, disregarded Mr. Burr’s plea and laid out a narrow path to ‘yes’ in his opening remarks. | |
| He said that Democrats would expect Ms. Haspel to cooperate with the committee as it tries to exercise oversight. He asked her to pledge to cooperate with the ongoing investigations into Russian election interference by both the committee and the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III. And he said he would want to know how Ms. Haspel would deal with a president “who does not always seem interested in hearing, mush less speaking, the truth.” | |
| But, as expected, Mr. Warner said he was most concerned with Ms. Haspel’s views of the brutal interrogation program she helped run in the years after the Sept. 11 attacks. | |
| “Ms Haspel, what the committee must hear, is your own view” of the program, Mr. Warner said. “Should the United States ever permit detainees to be treated the way the C.I.A. treated detainees under the program — even if you believe it was technically ‘legal’? Most importantly, in your view — was the program consistent with American values?” | |
| He continued: “We must hear how you would react if the president asked you to carry out some morally questionable behavior that may seem to violate a law or treaty.” | |
| Few dispute that Ms. Haspel, a 33-year C.I.A. veteran, has the experience to run the agency. At issue is her involvement in the rendition, detention and interrogation program that the agency developed in the frantic hunt for the conspirators in the Sept. 11 attacks. | Few dispute that Ms. Haspel, a 33-year C.I.A. veteran, has the experience to run the agency. At issue is her involvement in the rendition, detention and interrogation program that the agency developed in the frantic hunt for the conspirators in the Sept. 11 attacks. |
| The C.I.A. long ago repudiated the program, which included waterboarding and other methods banned by law, and many senators say they are looking to Ms. Haspel to do the same. | The C.I.A. long ago repudiated the program, which included waterboarding and other methods banned by law, and many senators say they are looking to Ms. Haspel to do the same. |
| “Having served in that tumultuous time, I can offer you my personal commitment, clearly and without reservation, that under my leadership, C.I.A. will not restart such a detention and interrogation program,” she planned to say, according to excerpts from prepared remarks released by the C.I.A. on Tuesday night. She did not directly address her role in the interrogations or the torture of suspected militants by others at the agency. | “Having served in that tumultuous time, I can offer you my personal commitment, clearly and without reservation, that under my leadership, C.I.A. will not restart such a detention and interrogation program,” she planned to say, according to excerpts from prepared remarks released by the C.I.A. on Tuesday night. She did not directly address her role in the interrogations or the torture of suspected militants by others at the agency. |
| In late 2002, Ms. Haspel was dispatched to oversee a secret C.I.A. prison in Thailand code-named Cat’s Eye. While she was there, C.I.A. contractors waterboarded Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, a Qaeda suspect accused of orchestrating the bombing of the American destroyer Cole off the coast of Yemen in 2000. | In late 2002, Ms. Haspel was dispatched to oversee a secret C.I.A. prison in Thailand code-named Cat’s Eye. While she was there, C.I.A. contractors waterboarded Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, a Qaeda suspect accused of orchestrating the bombing of the American destroyer Cole off the coast of Yemen in 2000. |
| Critics, including some senators on the committee, say her willingness to employ brutal methods to extract information — including waterboarding, sleep deprivation and confining prisoners in boxes — should disqualify her. | Critics, including some senators on the committee, say her willingness to employ brutal methods to extract information — including waterboarding, sleep deprivation and confining prisoners in boxes — should disqualify her. |
| The sessions carried out at the prison in Thailand — including many conducted when Ms. Haspel was not there — were videotaped and the recordings stored in a safe at the C.I.A. station there until 2005, when they were ordered destroyed. By then, Ms. Haspel was serving at C.I.A. headquarters, and it was her name that was on the cable carrying the destruction orders. The agency maintains that the decision to destroy the recordings was made by Ms. Haspel’s boss at the time, Jose Rodriguez, who was the head of the C.I.A.’s clandestine service. | The sessions carried out at the prison in Thailand — including many conducted when Ms. Haspel was not there — were videotaped and the recordings stored in a safe at the C.I.A. station there until 2005, when they were ordered destroyed. By then, Ms. Haspel was serving at C.I.A. headquarters, and it was her name that was on the cable carrying the destruction orders. The agency maintains that the decision to destroy the recordings was made by Ms. Haspel’s boss at the time, Jose Rodriguez, who was the head of the C.I.A.’s clandestine service. |
| Last week, Ms. Haspel briefly considered withdrawing her nomination over fears that the White House would not fully support her because of her role in the interrogation program. She changed her mind only after Mr. Trump and top aides reassured her. | Last week, Ms. Haspel briefly considered withdrawing her nomination over fears that the White House would not fully support her because of her role in the interrogation program. She changed her mind only after Mr. Trump and top aides reassured her. |
| Ms. Haspel’s role in overseeing the interrogations and destroying evidence of them already once hindered her career. In 2013, the C.I.A. wanted to name Ms. Haspel to run clandestine operations, but Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, the Democrat who was then the chairwoman of the Intelligence Committee, blocked the promotion because of her work in Thailand. | Ms. Haspel’s role in overseeing the interrogations and destroying evidence of them already once hindered her career. In 2013, the C.I.A. wanted to name Ms. Haspel to run clandestine operations, but Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, the Democrat who was then the chairwoman of the Intelligence Committee, blocked the promotion because of her work in Thailand. |
| After her wavering last week and in anticipation of contentious moments at her hearing, Senate Republicans urged their colleagues on Tuesday to confirm Ms. Haspel but dismissed calls from Democrats for more sensitive information about her career to be made public. | After her wavering last week and in anticipation of contentious moments at her hearing, Senate Republicans urged their colleagues on Tuesday to confirm Ms. Haspel but dismissed calls from Democrats for more sensitive information about her career to be made public. |
| “That has never happened in the history of the C.I.A., and it’s not going to happen with Gina Haspel’s nomination,” Senator Richard Burr of North Carolina, the Republican chairman of the Intelligence Committee, told reporters. | “That has never happened in the history of the C.I.A., and it’s not going to happen with Gina Haspel’s nomination,” Senator Richard Burr of North Carolina, the Republican chairman of the Intelligence Committee, told reporters. |
| Several prominent members of the Republican-controlled Senate have indicated they are likely to object to Ms. Haspel’s confirmation, primarily over her role in the agency’s use of torture. They include Ms. Feinstein; Senator Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky; and Senator John McCain, an influential Republican from Arizona and chairman of the Armed Services Committee. Mr. McCain’s dissent would normally be potent, but he is being treated for brain cancer and is not expected to be in Washington to vote or to try to persuade Republican colleagues to join his objection. | Several prominent members of the Republican-controlled Senate have indicated they are likely to object to Ms. Haspel’s confirmation, primarily over her role in the agency’s use of torture. They include Ms. Feinstein; Senator Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky; and Senator John McCain, an influential Republican from Arizona and chairman of the Armed Services Committee. Mr. McCain’s dissent would normally be potent, but he is being treated for brain cancer and is not expected to be in Washington to vote or to try to persuade Republican colleagues to join his objection. |
| That leaves at least two key members of the Intelligence Committee to watch: Senator Susan Collins, a moderate Maine Republican who often breaks with Mr. Trump; and Senator Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat who has sided with the president. | That leaves at least two key members of the Intelligence Committee to watch: Senator Susan Collins, a moderate Maine Republican who often breaks with Mr. Trump; and Senator Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat who has sided with the president. |
| If Ms. Collins indicates she is leaning against Ms. Haspel, she could provide cover for Mr. Manchin and other moderate Democratic senators to vote no, sinking her candidacy. But if Ms. Collins signals that she is satisfied with Ms. Haspel’s answers and intends vote yes, at least some Democrats — enough to secure a positive vote on the Senate floor — are likely to make a political calculation that they must follow suit. | If Ms. Collins indicates she is leaning against Ms. Haspel, she could provide cover for Mr. Manchin and other moderate Democratic senators to vote no, sinking her candidacy. But if Ms. Collins signals that she is satisfied with Ms. Haspel’s answers and intends vote yes, at least some Democrats — enough to secure a positive vote on the Senate floor — are likely to make a political calculation that they must follow suit. |
| Inside the C.I.A., many see Ms. Haspel as the agency’s best chance to keep Mr. Trump from installing a political partisan as director. So the agency took a page from its own book of spycraft and ran an overt campaign of influence to promote a more positive view of Ms. Haspel. | Inside the C.I.A., many see Ms. Haspel as the agency’s best chance to keep Mr. Trump from installing a political partisan as director. So the agency took a page from its own book of spycraft and ran an overt campaign of influence to promote a more positive view of Ms. Haspel. |
| The agency has declassified secrets about her life as a globe-trotting spy and encouraged former clandestine officers, typically expected to remain quiet even in retirement, to grant interviews. It sought to generate favorable news coverage by providing selective biographical details about Ms. Haspel to reporters, then sent a news release to highlight the resulting articles. | The agency has declassified secrets about her life as a globe-trotting spy and encouraged former clandestine officers, typically expected to remain quiet even in retirement, to grant interviews. It sought to generate favorable news coverage by providing selective biographical details about Ms. Haspel to reporters, then sent a news release to highlight the resulting articles. |
| Former intelligence officials, including Democratic appointees like John. O. Brennan, who ran the C.I.A. under President Barack Obama, have publicly urged the Senate to confirm her. | Former intelligence officials, including Democratic appointees like John. O. Brennan, who ran the C.I.A. under President Barack Obama, have publicly urged the Senate to confirm her. |
| And shortly after her nomination was announced in March, the C.I.A. engaged in a Twitter storm, selectively describing her life and career. | And shortly after her nomination was announced in March, the C.I.A. engaged in a Twitter storm, selectively describing her life and career. |
| The agency revealed that Ms. Haspel was born in Ashland, Ky., and is the oldest of five children and that she had to put up with male colleagues who were unaccustomed to seeing a woman take charge in dangerous corners of the world. | The agency revealed that Ms. Haspel was born in Ashland, Ky., and is the oldest of five children and that she had to put up with male colleagues who were unaccustomed to seeing a woman take charge in dangerous corners of the world. |
| The agency said she joined its counterterrorism center on the day of the Sept. 11 attacks, and it played up the experience she earned helping lead the fight against Al Qaeda. It said nothing about her role in Thailand or the destruction of videotapes documenting torture. | The agency said she joined its counterterrorism center on the day of the Sept. 11 attacks, and it played up the experience she earned helping lead the fight against Al Qaeda. It said nothing about her role in Thailand or the destruction of videotapes documenting torture. |
| Still, many of Ms. Haspel’s critics remained unswayed. A number of senators have repeatedly hammered the C.I.A. for not declassifying more details about Ms. Haspel’s career. A group of former generals said her role in the interrogation program meant she was not fit to lead the C.I.A. And even some former spies have said they are uneasy with the way the C.I.A. has sought to promote Ms. Haspel: One called it “kind of creepy.” | Still, many of Ms. Haspel’s critics remained unswayed. A number of senators have repeatedly hammered the C.I.A. for not declassifying more details about Ms. Haspel’s career. A group of former generals said her role in the interrogation program meant she was not fit to lead the C.I.A. And even some former spies have said they are uneasy with the way the C.I.A. has sought to promote Ms. Haspel: One called it “kind of creepy.” |
| In her own statement to senators on Wednesday, Ms. Haspel promoted her experience as a spy. | |
| “From my first days in training, I had a knack for the nuts and bolts of my profession,” she said. “I excelled in finding and acquiring secret information that I obtained in brush passes, dead drops or in meetings in dusty back allies of third-world capitals.” |