Senate Panel Votes to Endorse Haspel as CIA Director

Full Senate will now vote on Haspel's confirmation
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted May 16, 2018 10:50 AM CDT
Senate Panel Votes to Endorse Haspel as CIA Director
CIA nominee Gina Haspel is seated before a confirmation hearing of the Senate Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill on May 9, 2018, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Gina Haspel won the endorsement of the Senate Intelligence Committee Wednesday, with the panel voting 10-5 to advance her nomination as CIA director to the full Senate. Haspel, who would be the first woman to lead the Central Intelligence Agency and the second person to lead the agency after being undercover her entire career, was a controversial pick by President Trump thanks to her role in the CIA's controversial post-9/11 "enhanced" interrogation program, per ABC News. But at least five Democrats in the Senate have said they will back her, "all but assuring" she'll be confirmed, per the Wall Street Journal. Republican Senate leaders want to hold the vote this week, but it could get pushed to next week. (More Gina Haspel stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X