Trump names Gina Haspel deputy CIA director, raising questions about torture
On Thursday, President Trump named Gina Haspel, a longtime officer in the CIA's clandestine services, as the CIA's deputy director, putting her second-in-command below Director Mike Pompeo. The promotion was greeted enthusiastically within the CIA, as the elevation of a veteran officer signaled confidence in the spy agency. Trump himself focused on the little crack he claimed to have made in the glass ceiling:
The CIA's first overseas detention site was in Thailand. It was run by Ms. Haspel, who oversaw the brutal interrogations of two detainees, Abu Zubaydah and Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri. Mr. Zubaydah alone was waterboarded 83 times in a single month, had his head repeatedly slammed into walls and endured other harsh methods before interrogators decided he had no useful information to provide. The sessions were videotaped and the recordings stored in a safe at the CIA station in Thailand until 2005, when they were ordered destroyed. By then, Ms. Haspel was serving at CIA headquarters, and it was her name that was on the cable carrying the destruction orders. [The New York Times]
The CIA said that Jose Rodriguez, Haspel's boss at the time, had ordered the destruction of the tape, but when she was up for Rodriguez's job as head of clandestine services, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) blocked the promotion over her destruction of evidence and ties to torture. Democrats were still unenthusiastic about her elevation to deputy director, but Republicans were pleased. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-Calif) said Haspel had "impressed us with her dedication, forthrightness, and her deep commitment to the intelligence community."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Trump has said he believes torture works and has floated reopening the black sites. Former President Barack Obama, who closed them down and banned the use of torture, picked as his final CIA director John Brennan, who was No. 3 at the CIA when the agency began "enhanced interrogations." You can read more about Haspel at The New York Times.
Update: A bit of extra context: Haspel is actually the second woman to be CIA deputy director, after Avril Haines, who served from 2013-15, and was tapped by former President Barack Obama.
-
Where to begin with Portuguese winesThe Week Recommends Indulge in some delicious blends to celebrate the end of Dry January
-
Climate change has reduced US salariesUnder the radar Elevated temperatures are capable of affecting the entire economy
-
6 gorgeous homes in warm climesFeature Featuring a Spanish Revival in Tucson and Richard Neutra-designed modernist home in Los Angeles
-
Trump sues IRS for $10B over tax record leaksSpeed Read The president is claiming ‘reputational and financial harm’ from leaks of his tax information between 2018 and 2020
-
Trump, Senate Democrats reach DHS funding dealSpeed Read The deal will fund most of the government through September and the Department of Homeland Security for two weeks
-
Fed holds rates steady, bucking Trump pressureSpeed Read The Federal Reserve voted to keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged
-
Judge slams ICE violations amid growing backlashSpeed Read ‘ICE is not a law unto itself,’ said a federal judge after the agency violated at least 96 court orders
-
Rep. Ilhan Omar attacked with unknown liquidSpeed Read This ‘small agitator isn’t going to intimidate me from doing my work’
-
Democrats pledge Noem impeachment if not firedSpeed Read Trump is publicly defending the Homeland Security secretary
-
The billionaires’ wealth tax: a catastrophe for California?Talking Point Peter Thiel and Larry Page preparing to change state residency
-
Hegseth moves to demote Sen. Kelly over videospeed read Retired Navy fighter pilot Mark Kelly appeared in a video reminding military service members that they can ‘refuse illegal orders’
