“This nomination is bigger than one person,” Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who released the 2014 torture report as then-chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, wrote in a statement. [Gina Haspel, Trump’s pick to lead CIA, pledges she won’t restart interrogation program]But Haspel refused to disavow her past actions related to the program, arguing that she had been led to believe they were legal at the time. In late 2002, Haspel took over a secret CIA prison in Thailand where detainees had been subjected to interrogation practices. Feinstein is one of several Democratic senators who also called on Haspel to declassify documents related to her mysterious career, so that they can be shared with the public. Her confirmation hearing behind her, Haspel is now meeting with senators off the committee who may vote for her, including Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), who is expected to speak with Haspel on Thursday.

Source: Washington Post May 10, 2018 16:18 UTC