ACLU Comment on Haspel Confirmation Hearing for CIA Director

WASHINGTON — The Senate Intelligence Committee today held a hearing on Gina Haspel’s nomination to lead the CIA.

Christopher Anders, American Civil Liberties Union, deputy director of its Washington Legislative Office, said:

“Gina Haspel said she has a moral compass, but refused to say whether the torture program she supervised was wrong. She refused to say whether she tried to keep the program going, long after Senator McCain’s amendment made crystal clear that it must be shut down. She even refused to say whether she will tell Congress if President Trump asks for her loyalty.

“She is keeping a tight fist on her own record, telling the Senate that she alone has the power to decide which CIA documents related to her work can be made public. Haspel both thumbed her nose at calls to release her torture record and demonstrated that she did not know right from wrong when it most mattered. The Senate should not even agree to vote on this nomination until it gets full information and honesty from this nominee.”