WASHINGTON, DC. (EETV)- Alabama Sen. Doug Jones announced Tuesday that he would oppose President Donald Trump’s nominee for CIA director Gina Haspel.
Haspel, if confirmed, would be the first female director of the intelligence agency and currently serves as the agency’s acting director.
Jones, in a statement, wrote: “Ms. Haspel’s role in programs that conducted torture is very troubling; her refusal to acknowledge the immorality of such conduct even today with the benefit of hindsight is even more so and reflects poorly on our nation’s reputation as a moral leader in the world. Her statement today that the ‘enhanced interrogation program is not one the CIA should have undertaken’ has not relieved my concerns, which are rooted in both the responsibility I feel as a Senator and in my own deeply held faith.”
According to a 2011 CIA disciplinary review related to actions surrounding interrogations and possible destruction of interrogation tapes, no wrongdoing was found on the part of Haspel.
The review states, “I have found no fault with the performance of Ms. Haspel. I have concluded that she acted appropriately in her role as Mr. [Jose] Rodriguez’s Chief of Staff.”
Alabama Republican Party Chairman Terry Lathan criticized Jones’ stance in a statement writing, “In voting no to confirm Gina Haspel, Senator Jones is choosing to put partisanship over our nation’s security. Alabama voters will remember this when they head to the polls to choose their next U.S. Senator in 2020. Alabama and President Trump vow to put America First. This decision by Senator Jones simply does not do that.”
Haspel has been endorsed by a bipartisan group of lawmakers and former intelligence community officials including Obama CIA director John Brennan. Despite Jones’ opposition, Haspel is expected to be confirmed by the full Senate in the coming days.
