Torture role shadows Trump's pick to lead CIA

CORRECTION: Gina Haspel, President Donald Trump’s pick to become the next director of the CIA, at some point in 2002 oversaw the agency’s clandestine prison in Thailand. While suspected terrorists Abu Zubayadah and Abd al Rahim al-Nashiri were waterboarded at the site that year, according to a 2014 Senate torture report and other documents, it’s unclear if such treatment occurred while Haspel was chief of the base where the prison was located. This story incorrectly stated that Haspel oversaw the prison, which closed in December 2002, from 2003 to 2005.

WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump's pick to be the next -- and first female -- director of the clandestine agency has conflicting public reputations, with colleagues describing Gina Haspel as a seasoned veteran who would lead the CIA with integrity and human-rights advocates seeing her as someone who supervised torture at a secret prison.

If confirmed by the Senate, the 61-year-old career spymaster will succeed Mike Pompeo, who is piced to replace ousted Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

Haspel didn't have to face a confirmation hearing when she became deputy director of the agency in February 2017. To be director, she'll have to be confirmed by the Senate Intelligence Committee. That will likely mean questions about one of the darkest periods of the CIA's history.

Haspel had a front-row seat to the CIA's use of harsh interrogation techniques against terror suspects. At some point in 2002, she oversaw a secret CIA prison in Thailand. Terror suspects Abu Zubayadah and Abd al Rahim al-Nashiri were waterboarded at the prison sometime that year, current and former U.S. intelligence officials said, but it was unclear if Haspel was uncharge at that time. Waterboarding is a process that simulates drowning and is widely considered to be a form of torture.

Haspel, who joined the CIA in 1985, also helped carry out an order to destroy waterboarding videos. The order prompted a lengthy Justice Department investigation that ended without charges.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said Haspel must explain the nature and extent of her involvement in the CIA's interrogation program.

"Current U.S. law is clear in banning enhanced interrogation techniques," said McCain, who was beaten as a prisoner during the Vietnam War. "Any nominee for director of the CIA must pledge without reservation to uphold this prohibition."

Former CIA Director John Brennan declined to say what Haspel's exact role was in the interrogation program, but told NBC that she has a "lot of integrity" and has tried to carry out her agency duties "when asked to do difficult things in challenging times."

He said her activities during the interrogation program will be closely scrutinized during her confirmation hearing, but he predicted she would be confirmed.

"Gina is a very competent professional who I think deserves the chance to take the seat," Brennan said.

Sen. Richard Burr, the chairman of the Senate committee that will vote whether to confirm Haspel, said she has the "right skill set, experience and judgment" to lead the CIA.

While he would face steep legal and legislative hurdles to do so, Trump has said that he would reintroduce waterboarding and "a lot worse." His position has angered human-rights advocates, and they opposed his decision to put Haspel at the helm of the CIA.

"No one who had a hand in torturing individuals deserves to ever hold public office again, let alone lead an agency," Human Rights First's Raha Wala said Tuesday. "To allow someone who had a direct hand in this illegal, immoral and counterproductive program is to willingly forget our nation's dark history with torture."

In a brief statement, Haspel said she was "humbled" by Trump's confidence in her to lead the CIA.

Information for this article was contributed by Frank Jordans of The Associated Press.

A Section on 03/14/2018