Introducing the New CIA Director: Gina Haspel

By: Torre Jackson

Gina Haspel. photo via NBC News

The Senate has confirmed Gina Haspel to be the new CIA Director despite concerns
about her involvement in torture programs instituted after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Haspel has
worked in the CIA since 1985 and recently climbed the ranks to become Deputy CIA Director
and now CIA Director. Concerns were raised by skeptical senators such as Senator John McCain,
a victim of torture in the Vietnam War.

Some of these concerns include Haspel’s supervision of a secret prison in Thailand that
used techniques such as waterboarding on suspected terrorists. Also, people worry about
Haspel’s involvement in the destruction of ninety-two tapes that showcase other alleged torture
methods from the Thai prison. Infamous whistleblower, Edward Snowden, tweeted about
Haspel’s involvement in torture:

Note: Gina Haspel participated in a torture program that involved beating an (innocent) pregnant woman's stomach, anally raping a man with meals he tried to refuse, and freezing a shackled prisoner until he died. She personally wrote the order to destroy 92 tapes of CIA torture. https://t.co/09vWp7CifU

— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) May 18, 2018

Despite controversies and concerns, the Senate confirmed Gina Haspel to be the new CIA
Director with a vote of 54 to 45. Republican Senators Jeff Flake, John McCain, and Rand Paul all opposed Haspel's nomination. Haspel did however successfully secure the key votes of 6 Senate Democrats, most notably Mark Warner, a top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee. 

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