May 9 (UPI) — Gina Haspel, President Donald Trump’s appointee to be the next director of central intelligence, will begin her confirmation in the Senate Wednesday morning.
Haspel, a 33-year veteran of the CIA, will appear before the Senate Committee on Intelligence at 9:30 a.m. EDT.
Haspel was tabbed by Trump to replace Mike Pompeo as agency chief after he succeeded Rex Tillerson as head of the State Department.
Haspel is expected to face tough questioning from the panel over her involvement in past CIA interrogations of suspected terrorists. Last month, more than 100 retired generals and admirals wrote to members of the Senate expressing “profound concern” about Haspel’s nomination.
Haspel, 61, joined the CIA in 1985 and spent most of her career as a clandestine operative. She has served as deputy CIA director since last year and acting director since April 26. For a few weeks in 2013, she was the agency’s acting director of the National Clandestine Service under President Barack Obama.
If confirmed, Haspel would become the CIA’s first permanent female director.
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.