Washington, DC | www.adc.org | March 28, 2018 | The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) calls on the U.S. Senate to reject Gina Haspel, Donald Trump’s nominee to head the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
As the Chief of Base of a CIA “Black Site” detention facility in Thailand, Haspel oversaw the use of “enhanced interrogation techniques” against detainees. Such techniques involved waterboarding and other acts of torture in violation of the United Nations Convention against Torture. In 2005, Haspel was involved in destroying videotapes of the interrogations.
A 2014 investigation by the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee found that CIA officials lied to Congress about the torture program. Moreover, the Committee concluded, torture “was not an effective means of obtaining accurate information.” The Senate’s full report has never been declassified due to CIA pressure.
Haspel’s full involvement in the torture program that severely damaged America’s reputation remains unknown. ADC supports Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s (D-CA) effort to declassify documents related to Haspel’s tenure.
Officials who approved and oversaw the torture program have yet to be held accountable. Haspel as CIA director would represent continued impunity and would augur poorly for future lawful conduct at the agency. The Senate must vote NO on Haspel, whose approval and cover-up of torture makes her unfit to serve in public office.