Trump's nominee to head the CIA releases statement characterizing enhanced interrogation programs as a mistake


President Trump's nominee for CIA director, Gina Haspel, has issued a statement claiming that she believes the CIA's use of controversial interrogation techniques like waterboarding after 9/11 "ultimately did damage to our officers and our standing in the world," NBC News reports. While Haspel refused in her statement to "condemn those that made these hard calls," she explained that "with the benefit of hindsight and my experience as a senior agency leader, the enhanced interrogation program is not one the CIA should have undertaken."
The CIA's use of such programs was central during Haspel's confirmation hearing before senators earlier this month, although Haspel at the time had refused repeatedly to state that she believed the techniques used on detainees were immoral. Haspel herself worked at a "black site" in 2002 where suspects were waterboarded, and has been criticized for a 2005 cable in which she states that videos showing waterboarding should be destroyed.
Haspel's statement all but assures "that she will be confirmed," NBC News predicts. Haspel's dodging of questions about the morality of torture had irked on-the-fence Democrats during their questioning of the nominee, and Haspel will likely need a few Democrats to support her nomination to clear the Senate. The Senate Intelligence Committee will vote on Haspel's nomination Wednesday, setting the stage for a full vote in the upper chamber next week.
Subscribe to 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.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
Can Gaza aid drops work?
Today's Big Question UN's Palestinian refugee agency calls plan a 'distraction and smokescreen' as pressure mounts on Israel to agree ceasefire and fully open land crossings
-
Posh tinned fish is making waves
The Week Recommends Upmarket tuna and trout in colourful tins have become a 'chic' dinner party staple
-
Food may contribute more to obesity than exercise
Under the radar The devil's in the diet
-
Trump executive order targets homeless
Speed Read It will now be easier for states and cities to remove homeless people from the streets
-
Columbia pays $200M to settle with White House
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the school of failing to protect its Jewish students amid pro-Palestinian protests
-
Florida judge and DOJ make Epstein trouble for Trump
Speed Read The Trump administration's request to release grand jury transcripts from the Epstein investigation was denied
-
Trump attacks Obama as Epstein furor mounts
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the Obama administration of 'treasonous' behavior during the 2016 election
-
Trump administration releases MLK files
Speed Read Newly released documents on the 1968 assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did not hold any new revelations, King historians said
-
Japan's prime minister feels pressure after election losses
Speed Read Shigeru Ishiba has vowed to remain in office
-
President diagnosed with 'chronic venous insufficiency'
Speed Read The vein disorder has given Trump swollen ankles and visible bruising on his hands
-
'Bawdy' Trump letter supercharges Epstein scandal
Speed Read The Wall Street Journal published details of Trump's alleged birthday letter to Epstein