Heinrich Votes Against CIA Director Nominee Gina Haspel In Committee

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) issued the following statement after voting against Gina Haspel to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence today. Haspel was favorably reported out of the Committee by a vote of 10-5 and her nomination will now be considered by the full Senate.

“Our leaders should be a reflection of our shared American values. Based on my extensive examination of Gina Haspel’s record, both classified and unclassified, and the many New Mexicans I heard from who told me they wanted more information about her past, I voted against Ms. Haspel’s nomination. The American people deserve transparency regarding the background of a nominee who will be asked to represent them, and their values, around the world. 

“What stood out most to me was Acting Director Haspel’s refusal to call a spade a spade. I wanted reassurance from her that she has a moral compass and will stand up to the President and not enable his worst impulses, including getting back in the business of enhanced interrogation. While she finally admitted publicly that the CIA should not have undertaken the detention and interrogation program, she refused to label torture as immoral and contrary to American values. In my view, her failure to take personal responsibility for any role she might have played in the CIA’s detention and interrogation program and her conflicting replies to questions about the destruction of videotapes related to the program make her unsuitable to lead the CIA.”