Heinrich Questions Director of National Intelligence Nominee On The Intelligence Community's Role In Rooting Out White Supremacy And Violent Extremism

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) questioned Avril Haines during a Senate Select Committee on Intelligence confirmation hearing on her nomination to be the Director of National Intelligence. He asked what role Haines thought the intelligence community should play in addressing violent threats originating from white supremacy and extremist groups operating inside the United States.

VIDEO: Heinrich Questions Director of National Intelligence Nominee Avril Haines

"As we witnessed – many of us firsthand – on January 6, a most serious threat to our democracy came from within. We’ve seen the current president has done his utmost to stoke the grievances and division that have fueled this threat. But his departure from office tomorrow will certainly not eliminate it," said Heinrich.

During the hearing today, Senator Heinrich secured a commitment from Haines that if confirmed she would work with the FBI and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Intelligence and Analysis to provide a public written assessment of the threat of QAnon to the United States.

Nearly a month before the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol, Senator Heinrich led a letter to the FBI and the DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis requesting a written assessment to Congress on the threat posed by QAnon, in the United States and abroad. The Senators also requested information on the role of foreign influence operations in the inception and amplification of QAnon conspiracy theories. To date, the request has gone unanswered.

Senator Heinrich also raised the CIA's past use of torture and received confirmation that Haines agreed that waterboarding and other so-called “enhanced interrogation techniques” are not effective.

The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence is expected to vote on Haines's confirmation in the coming days.