CIA nominee Haspel vows spy agency will not engage in torture

Washington (AFP) – Gina Haspel, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the CIA, vowed Wednesday that the spy agency will not engage in torture of detainees under her watch.

Facing opposition over her role at a secret CIA prison in Thailand in 2002 where Al-Qaeda detainees were waterboarded, Haspel made clear she would not support such activity in the future if she is confirmed as CIA director.

“Having served in that tumultuous time, I can offer you my personal commitment, clearly and without reservation, that under my leadership CIA will not restart such a detention and interrogation program,” she told the Senate Intelligence Committee.

“In retrospect it is clear … that CIA was not prepared to conduct a detention and interrogation program.”